About the book
In the eleventh century Murasaki Shikibu, a lady in the Heian court of Japan, wrote the world's first novel. But The Tale of Genji is no mere artifact. It is, rather, a lively and astonishingly nuanced portrait of a refined society where every dalliance is an act of political consequence, a play of characters whose inner lives are as rich and changeable as those imagined by Proust. Chief of these is \"the shining Genji,\" the son of the emperor and a man whose passionate impulses create great turmoil in his world and very nearly destroy him. This edition, recognized as the finest version in English, contains a dozen chapters from early in the book, carefully chosen by the translator, Edward G. Seidensticker, with an introduction explaining the selection. It is illustrated throughout with woodcuts from a seventeenth-century edition.
Editions of The Tale of Genji
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780679729532
- EBook
- ISBN 9780307833525
Read an Excerpt
In the eleventh century Murasaki Shikibu, a lady in the Heian court of Japan, wrote the world's first novel. But The Tale of Genji is no mere artifact. It is, rather, a lively and astonishingly nuanced portrait of a refined society where every dalliance is an act of political consequence, a play of characters whose inner lives are as rich and changeable as those imagined by Proust. Chief of these is \"the shining Genji,\" the son of the emperor and a man whose passionate impulses create great turmoil in his world and very nearly destroy him. This edition, recognized as the finest version in English, contains a dozen chapters from early in the book, carefully chosen by the translator, Edward G. Seidensticker, with an introduction explaining the selection. It is illustrated throughout with woodcuts from a seventeenth-century edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Tale of Genji about?
In the eleventh century Murasaki Shikibu, a lady in the Heian court of Japan, wrote the world's first novel. But The Tale of Genji is no mere artifact. It is, rather, a lively and astonishingly nuanced portrait of a refined society where every dalliance is an act of political consequence, a play of characters whose inner lives are as rich and changeable as those imagined by Proust. Chief of these is \"the shining Genji,\" the son of the emperor and a man whose passionate impulses create great turmoil in his world and very nearly destroy him. This edition, recognized as the finest version in English, contains a dozen chapters from early in the book, carefully chosen by the translator, Edward G. Seidensticker, with an introduction explaining the selection. It is illustrated throughout with woodcuts from a seventeenth-century edition.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Tale of Genji?
Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre > Classic fiction: literary and general
Where can I read a sample of The Tale of Genji?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780679729532
Is The Tale of Genji part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Vintage International
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Tale of Genji?
Murasaki Shikibu
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Tale of Genji is available as paperback(ISBN 9780679729532) and ebook(ISBN 9780307833525)
Where can I buy The Tale of Genji online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Tale of Genji from below
Where can I buy The Tale of Genji?