Nearly one hundred years after his death, author, translator, and educator Lafcadio Hearn remains one of the best-known Westerners ever to make Japan his home. His prolific writings on things Japanese helped shape Western views on Japan well into the 20th century. Yet as influential as he was, critical opinion of his work varies widely. To some, he is Japan's greatest interpreter; to others, he is the country's ultimate apologist.

In this new anthology, Donald Richie shows that Hearn was first and foremost a reliable observer, who faithfully recorded a detailed account of the people, customs, and culture of turn-of-the-century Japan. Through his selections, Richie also suggests that Hearn tempered his style and altered his perceptions over time to more accurately reflect the world in which he lived.