Han's Crime
By Naoya Shiga
1913
First Published
3.81
Average Rating
11
Number of Pages
Shiga Naoya's story "Han's Crime" first appeared in 1913 in Shirakaba (White Birch), a literary magazine founded by Shiga and a group of wealthy university students. "Han's Crime" was well-received when it was first published; several critics considered it an almost perfect short story, saying it exemplified Shiga's sparse, psychologically probing style. Told almost entirely through dialogue, the story attempts to unravel the truth behind the violent death of Han's wife, a young circus performer. It seems clear that Han has killed his wife in the midst of a knife-throwing act; he and his colleagues are called in before the judge to testify. The judge's duty is to determine whether Han's crime was premeditated (murder) or accidental (manslaughter). As the story progresses, however, what at first seems clear becomes more difficult to pin down. In his confession, Han reveals that he himself does not know whether he committed murder or was simply involved in a tragic accident.
Avg Rating
3.81
Number of Ratings
36
5 STARS
22%
4 STARS
44%
3 STARS
25%
2 STARS
8%
1 STARS
0%
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Author
Naoya Shiga
Author · 5 books
Naoya Shiga (志賀 直哉) was a Japanese novelist and short story writer active during the Taishō and Showa periods of Japan.
