10th-century 11th-century asia asian asian-literature classic classic-fiction classic-literature classical-literature classics coming-of-age court-life cultural-studies drama epic fiction folk-tales graphic-arts heian historical historical-fiction history japan japanese japanese-fiction japanese-history japanese-literature kyoto literary-fiction literature loyalty manners medieval middle-ages novel novels poetry prose romance royalty school tale-of-genji women women-writers world-literature

Written in the eleventh century, this exquisite portrait of courtly life in medieval Japan is widely celebrated as the worlds 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 Tylers 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.