〈文字禍・牛人〉

著：中島 敦

出版：角川文庫

「文字禍」

「文字の霊などというものが、一体、あるものか、どうか。」（本文から引用） 冒頭の一文に絡め取られてから一息に読了して以来、粘り気を含む格調高い特有の文体とともに、「文字」をめぐる奇妙な物語が、わたしの心に深く刻み込まれた。 時を経て「文字のデザイン」に携わるようになった現在も、その印象は色褪せないばかりか、いよいよ鮮烈さを増している。 どうやらわたしも、文字の霊なるものに取り憑かれてしまったようである。

"I wonder if there is such a thing as the spirit of letters.” (quoted from the text) Since I read the book in one breath after being caught by the opening sentence, the strange story about “letters” has been deeply engraved in my mind, along with its unique and highly sophisticated writing style that includes tenacity. Even now, as I have become involved in “letter design,” the impression of the book has not only not faded away but has become more and more vivid. It seems that I, too, have become possessed by the spirit of letters.