Project Gutenberg 2005-03-10 Public domain in the USA. 599 Hearn, Lafcadio 1850 1904 Koizumi, Yakumo Hearn, Patrick Lafcadio Xiaoquan, Bayun 05033310 The Romance of the Milky Way, and Other Studies & Stories The romance of the Milky Way -- Goblin poetry -- "Ultimate questions" -- The mirror maiden -- The story of Ito Norisuké -- Stranger than fiction -- A letter from Japan. Produced by Ted Garvin, William Flis, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. "The Romance of the Milky Way, and Other Studies & Stories" by Lafcadio Hearn is a collection of short stories and essays written in the early 20th century. This volume includes Hearn's reflections on Japanese culture, folklore, and the human experience, expressed through rich and lyrical prose. The titular story dives into the enchanting Tanabata festival, exploring themes of love and longing in the myth of the Weaver and the Cowherd, symbolized by the stars. The opening of the work begins with a poetic description of the Tanabata festival, which is rooted in an ancient legend about two celestial beings, Hikoboshi and Tanabata, who can meet only once a year across the Milky Way. It paints a vivid picture of the festival's customs and the significance of color and poetry associated with it. Hearn effectively blends elements of Japanese culture and lore, such as the offerings made to the deities and the heartfelt emotions tied to the festival, immediately setting a tone of nostalgia and romance that resonates throughout the narrative. The readers are introduced to the mythic backdrop that romanticizes the star-crossed lovers, hinting at deeper themes of desire and separation that permeate the collection. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 65.5 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. en Japan -- Description and travel Folklore -- Japan Tales -- Japan PS Text Category: Short Stories Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches 293695 2025-08-06T13:33:17.304613 text/html 311452 2020-12-14T06:58:20 text/html 199805 2025-08-06T13:33:25.701490 application/epub+zip 200455 2025-08-06T13:33:20.943525 application/epub+zip 164703 2025-08-06T13:33:19.589523 application/epub+zip 436938 2025-08-06T13:33:28.957491 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 410642 2025-08-06T13:33:24.793522 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 351215 2022-09-07T21:09:38.363229 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 223189 2025-08-06T13:33:16.468534 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 222324 2020-12-14T06:58:20 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 224381 2020-12-14T06:58:20 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 21281 2025-08-06T13:33:29.101476 application/rdf+xml 21001 2025-08-06T13:33:20.128514 image/jpeg 4559 2025-08-06T13:33:19.858523 image/jpeg 87108 2020-12-14T06:58:20 application/octet-stream application/zip 99538 2020-12-14T06:58:20 application/octet-stream application/zip 87382 2020-12-14T06:58:20 application/octet-stream application/zip 189322 2025-08-06T13:33:17.326538 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia