
This version by Kencho Suematsu was the first-ever translation in English.

This book has influenced not only generations of courtiers and samurai of the distant past, but artists and painters even in modern times-episodes in the tale have been incorporated into the design of kimonos and handicrafts, and the four-line poems called waka which dance throughout this work have earned it a place as a classic text in the study of poetry. The Tale of Genji follows Prince Genji through his many loves and varied passions. Genji is also a master poet, dancer, musician and painter. Prince Genji manifests what was to become an image of the ideal Heian era courtier gentle and passionate. Lady Murasaki Shikibu and her tale's hero, Prince Genji, have had an unmatched influence on Japanese culture. Written centuries before the time of Shakespeare and even Chaucer, The Tale of Genji marks the birth of the novel-and after more than a millennium, this seminal work continues to enchant readers throughout the world. After the death of her husband, Shikibu immersed herself in Buddhism, and the religion's influence permeates her writing.The most famous work of Japanese literature and the world's first novel-written a thousand years ago and one of the enduring classics of world literature. Condensed, it's a quarter length of the unabridged text, making it perfect for readers with limited time.Ībout the Author: Lady Murasaki Shikibu, born in 978, was a member of the famed Fujiwara clan-one of the most influential families of the Heian period.

The Tale of Genji follows Prince Genji through his many loves, and varied passions.


The most famous work of Japanese literature and the world's first novel-written a thousand years ago and one of the enduring classics of world literature.
