Author's Biography

No Longer Human is a novel by the Japanese author Osamu Dazai, one of the most celebrated writers in Japanese literature. Born in 1909 in Kanagi, Aomori Prefecture, Dazai was the eighth child of a wealthy landowner. Despite his privileged background, he struggled with feelings of alienation and a sense of not fitting in, themes that would later permeate his work.

Dazai began his literary career while studying at the University of Tokyo, where he became involved in the avant-garde literary scene. His early works were influenced by European literature, particularly the writings of French authors like François Villon and Charles Baudelaire.

No Longer Human, published in 1948, is considered Dazai's masterpiece and is semi-autobiographical. The novel tells the story of Ōba Yōzō, a young man who feels disconnected from humanity and society. The character's experiences and inner turmoil reflect Dazai's own struggles with depression and addiction.

Dazai's writing is known for its lyrical style, dark humor, and introspective exploration of the human condition. Tragically, his life was marked by personal turmoil, and he attempted suicide several times. Dazai's life came to a tragic end in 1948 when he and his lover, Tomie Yamazaki, drowned in the Tamagawa Canal, in what is believed to be a suicide pact. His death has only added to the mystique surrounding his work, and No Longer Human remains a poignant and powerful examination of existential despair.