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The Box Man: A Novel Paperback – July 10, 2001

by Kobo Abe (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 266 ratings
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Kobo Abe, the internationally acclaimed author of Woman in the Dunes, combines wildly imaginative fantasies and naturalistic prose to create narratives reminiscent of the work of Kafka and Beckett.

In this eerie and evocative masterpiece, the nameless protagonist gives up his identity and the trappings of a normal life to live in a large cardboard box he wears over his head. Wandering the streets of Tokyo and scribbling madly on the interior walls of his box, he describes the world outside as he sees or perhaps imagines it, a tenuous reality that seems to include a mysterious rifleman determined to shoot him, a seductive young nurse, and a doctor who wants to become a box man himself. The Box Man is a marvel of sheer originality and a bizarrely fascinating fable about the very nature of identity.

Translated from the Japanese by E. Dale Saunders.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    192 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Vintage
  4. Publication date
    July 10, 2001
  5. Dimensions
    5.23 x 0.51 x 7.97 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0375726519
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0375726514
  8. Lexile measure
    950L
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“A spellbinder from beginnning to end, an edgy masterpiece.”–Chicago Sun-Times

“A stunning addition to the literature of eccentricity…an ontological thriller.”–The New York Times

“Brilliant…. Like Kafka’s, Abe’s work reveals an astonishing ability to create dreamlike events."–Chicago Tribune

From the Inside Flap

Abe, the internationally acclaimed author of Woman in the Dunes, combines wildly imaginative fantasies and naturalistic prose to create narratives reminiscent of the work of Kafka and Beckett.

In this eerie and evocative masterpiece, the nameless protagonist gives up his identity and the trappings of a normal life to live in a large cardboard box he wears over his head. Wandering the streets of Tokyo and scribbling madly on the interior walls of his box, he describes the world outside as he sees or perhaps imagines it, a tenuous reality that seems to include a mysterious rifleman determined to shoot him, a seductive young nurse, and a doctor who wants to become a box man himself. The Box Man is a marvel of sheer originality and a bizarrely fascinating fable about the very nature of identity.

Translated from the Japanese by E. Dale Saunders.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage; unknown edition (July 10, 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0375726519
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0375726514
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 950L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.23 x 0.51 x 7.97 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 266 ratings

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Kobo Abe

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
266 global ratings
Five Stars
5 Stars
Five Stars
It is a masterpiece and the final book of Abe Kobo’s trilogy about male/female erotic-emotional relationship, the first two being The Woman in the Dunes and The Face of Another.Gabor Fabricius
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Top reviews from the United States

Harry
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable - no. Intriguing - yes, yes, yes.
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2012
Verified Purchase
Really, really difficult to rate The Box Man. Did I love it? No - well not in terms of it leaving you in a joyous state or astounded by the wondrous prose. But it is a remarkable piece - mesmerising, haunting and more than a little frightening. And I can't stop thinking about it (much though I've tried) - and any book that can have that impact deserves five stars - not for `I love it', but because it is extraordinary.

The prose might not be wonderful (noting that Abe was clearly very capable as shown in The Woman in the Dunes) - but there is still much incredible writing. As example - the cold, analytical description of the naked nurse, as seen by the box man through a rear vision mirror held up to the hospital window, captures the contra-seductive and totally counter-erotic feel of this bizarre scene. The disjointed, Dadaist style leads you on a confusing, almost delirious journey between the box man, the fake box man, yet another maybe fake box man, the real doctor and the fake doctor. Was there a murder (or assisted suicide) or was it all just a dream? Just who is the narrator? I think the pieces fall into place, but who can be sure?

Hard to imagine a box man life evolving in any other culture outside of Japan - and it is a tribute to Japanese literature that such a theme can be embraced as real/valid and a tribute to Kobo Abe for turning it into a masterpiece.

This is a difficult piece of writing (and reading!) and I expect many will not enjoy it - but try looking beyond `enjoy' and I think you will find this read intriguing.
7 people found this helpful
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Spencer DeCosta
4.0 out of 5 stars What you see, sometimes see's back
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2024
Verified Purchase
I'm not much of a book reader but even I could tell this one is quite abstract. You'll follow along the story until the situation is sidelined for a commentary on the versatility of plastic cutting boards, or is completely dropped for the perspective of who knows who. But I was still able to read it in just 3 sittings. It gripped me with it's jaring abruption. It delves into voyeurism, sexual shame, stolen identity and how to live as a true box man. You'll end this book dizzy, so enjoy the spin.
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Titus Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars :)
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2020
Verified Purchase
Great Book.
This is a book that is too surreal to just much about.
The best I can compare it to is a journal written by an insane person.
Not for everyone, but if surreal fiction is your thing. Then, go for it.
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fastreader
3.0 out of 5 stars Wierd little translated tale of a man. I think, who lives in a box. Not ranked highly by me
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2013
Verified Purchase
I really struggled to read this. Although it is highly thought of in the science fiction field the premise and phraseology were hard to work with.

The translation from Japanese may have something to do with it, but it is a wierd little story to read.

Approach with caution
One person found this helpful
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Gabor Fabricius
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2017
Verified Purchase
It is a masterpiece and the final book of Abe Kobo’s trilogy about male/female erotic-emotional relationship, the first two being The Woman in the Dunes and The Face of Another.
Gabor Fabricius
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Gabor Fabricius
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2017
It is a masterpiece and the final book of Abe Kobo’s trilogy about male/female erotic-emotional relationship, the first two being The Woman in the Dunes and The Face of Another.
Gabor Fabricius
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11 people found this helpful
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Justin Cipa
5.0 out of 5 stars Sounds horrible to say
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2016
Verified Purchase
Sounds horrible to say, but, I'm "getting back into reading" this summer. Reading this book is akin to reading a schizophrenic's notebook; confusing, powerful, surreal, and overall enlightening. A challenging read, but a very fulfilling one!
One person found this helpful
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Shirley Musich
4.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking, interesting read
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2014
Verified Purchase
Loved this book! Very thought provoking and interesting writing style. Similar to Murakami. How many people live in the small world of a "box man"!
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Richard Weems
2.0 out of 5 stars Very forced absurdity
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2022
Been (re)reading (kinda—see below) Abe this summer as I’ve been shelf-auditing: going through tomes I’ve held onto to make sure I have enough recollection of them to warrant keeping them. In grad school and shortly thereafter, I picked up a fascination with Abe and Kenzaburo Oe, but Abe in particular I hadn’t returned to in close to 30(!) years. Looking at them, I recalled basic premises, but not much more. And certainly not the endings.

And with Box Man, the third disappointment in my return trip, I honestly think I would have similarly stared blankly at you back then had you asked me what happened in this book. Abe sets himself up for potentially interesting philosophical questions (here, a homeless man who lives like a turtle in a cardboard box is paid by a doctor who wants to do the same, which carries some commentaries on attitudes about homelessness and identity when two identical box men present themselves) but the Kafka comparisons I’ve read are a far, far stretch and the absurdism sweaty and quite forced. Nostalgia’s a bummer.
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Top reviews from other countries

Gil Sánchez
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiration for Silent Hill
Reviewed in Germany on December 15, 2019
Verified Purchase
I read that the book is one of the many sources that inspired the game creators. I enjoyed it from beginning to end.
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Seems like a duped copy
Reviewed in India on October 13, 2018
Verified Purchase
The book is in good condition though the quality of the paper is questionable. Can't say whether this is original or duped, since the font is a bit weird.
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Seems like a duped copy
Reviewed in India on October 13, 2018
The book is in good condition though the quality of the paper is questionable. Can't say whether this is original or duped, since the font is a bit weird.
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Toby Macintyre
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 12, 2016
Verified Purchase
A fantastic book no the best book i have read but it incredibly good i highly recommend it
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L S.
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 3, 2016
Verified Purchase
As advertised.
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Ian Pizzini
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 28, 2014
Verified Purchase
Everything was perfect as described in the offer :D
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