Bücher von Murasaki Shikibu

The Tale of Genji is a classic work of Japanese literature written in the early 11th century by the noblewoman and lady-in-waiting Murasaki Shikibu. The original manuscript, created around the peak of the Heian period, no longer exists. The Tale of Genji centres on the life and loves of a handsome son, Hikaru Genji, born to an Emperor during the Heian Period. In the story, the beloved concubine of the emperor gives birth to Genji and dies soon after. A major theme of the 'Tale of Genji' concerns love, lust, and the interaction of members of the opposing sexes; it also explores the different themes of affection, friendship, filial loyalty, and family bonds.

First Published in 2005. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

"e;What Waley did create is literary art of extraordinary beauty that brings to life in English the world Murasaki Shikibu imagined. The beauty of his art has not dimmed, but like the original text itself retains the power to move and enlighten."e;Dennis Washburn, from his foreword Centuries before Shakespeare, Murasaki Shikibu's The Tale of Genji was already acknowledged as a classic of Japanese literature. Over the past century, this book has gained worldwide acceptance as not only the world's first novel but as one of the greatest works of literature of all time.The hero of the tale, Prince Genji, is a shining example of the Heian-era ideal manaccomplished in poetry, dance, music, painting, and, not least of all to the novel's many plots, romance. The Tale of Genji and the characters and world it depicts have influenced Japanese culture to its very core. This celebrated translation by Arthur Waley gives Western readers a very genuine feel for the tone of this beloved classic.This edition contains the complete Waley translation of all six books of The Tale of Genji and also contains a new foreword by Dennis Washburn with key insights into both the book and the importance of this translation for modern readers.

These diaries are a remarkable record of court life in eleventh century Japan. They are the personal accounts of three young girls, Sarashina, daughter of a Governor of Kazusa, Murasaki Shikibu, and Izumi Shikibu, daughter of a Governor of Echizen.