The Decay of the Angel

The Decay of the Angel is the final novel in Yukio Mishima's Sea of Fertility tetralogy, published in 1971 shortly after the author's death. The story centers on Shigekuni Honda, a retired judge who adopts a teenage orphan named Tōru Yasunaga. The narrative follows Honda's conviction that Tōru is the third reincarnation of his long-dead friend. The Buddhist concept of Devas - mortal angels who experience five stages of decay - serves as a central metaphor throughout the work. The novel captures Japan's transformation during the 20th century through Honda's observations and experiences. This concluding volume of the tetralogy acts as both a culmination of the series' themes and a meditation on the nature of beauty, mortality, and the passage of time.

Readers view this as the weakest book in Mishima's Sea of Fertility tetralogy. Many note it feels rushed and unfinished compared to the previous three novels. Readers appreciated: - The continuation of Buddhist themes and reincarnation concepts - The poetic descriptions of aging and mortality - How it brings closure to the tetralogy's overarching narrative Common criticisms: - Less polished writing than earlier volumes - Characters feel underdeveloped - Plot moves too quickly without proper development - The ending leaves questions unanswered One reader noted "it reads like a rough draft that needed another revision." Another mentioned "the philosophical depth of previous books is missing." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (90+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (200+ ratings) Most readers recommend reading the full tetralogy but caution that this final volume may disappoint compared to the earlier books.

The Temple of Dawn by Yukio Mishima The third book in the Sea of Fertility tetralogy follows similar themes of reincarnation and Buddhist philosophy through Honda's quest in Thailand.

Death in Midsummer by Yukio Mishima A collection of stories that explores the intersection of death, beauty, and Japanese tradition that echoes the thematic elements of The Decay of the Angel.

Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata This novel examines the decline of traditional Japanese culture and the nature of beauty through a relationship between a geisha and a wealthy man.

The Master of Go by Yasunari Kawabata The story chronicles the clash between tradition and modernity in post-war Japan through a championship Go match.

An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro A tale set in post-war Japan follows an aging artist reflecting on his past choices and Japan's cultural transformation.

🔹 The book was completed on November 25th, 1970 - the same day Mishima committed ritual suicide (seppuku) after staging a failed coup attempt at a military headquarters in Tokyo. 🔹 The Sea of Fertility tetralogy took Mishima nearly six years to write, and he left the manuscript of this final volume with his publisher on the morning of his death. 🔹 The title "The Decay of the Angel" references Buddhist mythology, specifically the five signs of decay that appear when a celestial being is about to fall from heaven. 🔹 Each novel in the tetralogy follows a different reincarnation of the same soul, spanning from 1912 to 1975, tracking Japan's transformation from an imperial power to a modern democracy. 🔹 The main character Honda's journey from young lawyer to retired judge mirrors Japan's own aging population crisis, which was beginning to emerge as a social concern when the book was written.