The Tale of Genji: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)

Front Cover
Penguin, 31. jaan 2006 - 1216 pages
The world’s first novel, in a translation that is “likely to be the definitive edition . . . for many years to come” (The Wall Street Journal)

A Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition, with flaps and deckle-edged paper

Written in the eleventh century, this exquisite portrait of courtly life in medieval Japan is widely celebrated as the world’s first novel. Genji, the Shining Prince, is the son of an emperor. He is a passionate character whose tempestuous nature, family circumstances, love affairs, alliances, and shifting political fortunes form the core of this magnificent epic. Royall Tyler’s superior translation is detailed, poetic, and superbly true to the Japanese original while allowing the modern reader to appreciate it as a contemporary treasure. Supplemented with detailed notes, glossaries, character lists, and chronologies to help the reader navigate the multigenerational narrative, this comprehensive edition presents this ancient tale in the grand style that it deserves.

From inside the book

Contents

Butterflies Kochô 25 The Fireflies Hotaru
The Pink Tokonatsu
The Cressets Kagaribi
The Typhoon Nowaki
The Imperial Progress Miyuki
Thoroughwort Flowers Fujibakama
The Handsome Pillar Makibashira
The Plum Tree Branch Umegae

Suma Suma
Akashi Akashi
The Pilgrimage to Sumiyoshi Miotsukushi
A Waste of Weeds Yomogiu
At the Pass Sekiya
The Picture Contest Eawase
Wind in the Pines Matsukaze
Wisps of Cloud Usugumo
The Bluebell Asagao
The Maidens Otome
The Tendril Wreath Tamakazura
The Warblers First Song Hatsune
New Wisteria Leaves Fuji no Uraba
Spring Shoots I Wakana
Spring Shoots II Wakana
The Oak Tree Kashiwagi
The Flute Yokobue 38 The Bell Cricket Suzumushi 39 Evening Mist Yûgiri
The Law Minori
The Seer Maboroshi
Vanished into the Clouds Kumogakure
The Perfumed Prince Niou Miya 43 Red Plum Blossoms Kôbai
Bamboo River Takekawa
The Maiden of the Bridge Hashihime
Copyright

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About the author (2006)

Murasaki Shikibu, a lady in the Heian court of Japan, is best known as the author of The Tale of Genjiwritten in the eleventh century and universally recognized as the greatest masterpiece of Japanese prose narrative and possibly the earliest true novel in the history of the world.

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