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  • 11th Century Player

  • I am not sure this belongs on the Novel 100 list. I had a horrible time trudging through this book. There are not likable characters, the history of court life is sporadic and confusing, and the ending is lackluster at best. Genji has no endearing qualities as the hero of the story. But, I can s ... Continue

    I am not sure this belongs on the Novel 100 list. I had a horrible time trudging through this book. There are not likable characters, the history of court life is sporadic and confusing, and the ending is lackluster at best. Genji has no endearing qualities as the hero of the story. But, I can say I have read the oldest book on the Novel 100 list. There!

    

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• ― Bibliophile said on Nov 19, 2008 about the Paperback edition| Add your feedback

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  • A must read for Japanophiles

  • This book is essential for anyone desiring to understand more about Japanese culture. Just as European and early American literature like Dickens, Swift, and Twain have contributed to the form of American culture, this book has had a significant effect on Japanese culture. It's treatment of art, " ... Continue

    This book is essential for anyone desiring to understand more about Japanese culture. Just as European and early American literature like Dickens, Swift, and Twain have contributed to the form of American culture, this book has had a significant effect on Japanese culture. It's treatment of art, "high society," and relations between men and women can still be felt. And even if you aren't into that kind of societal/cultural depth, it is an important read because you will see the characters and situations alluded to in other things.

    

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• ― KyotoCutie said on Mar 30, 2007 | Add your feedback

The Tale of Genji was written in the eleventh century by Murasaki Shikibu, a lady of the Heian court. It is universally recognized as the greatest masterpiece of Japanese prose narrative, perhaps the earliest true novel in the history of the world. Until now there has been no translation that is both complete and scrupulously faithful to the original text. Edward G. Seidensticker's masterly rendering was first published in two volumes in 1976 and immediately hailed as a classic of the translator's art. It is here presented in one unabridged volume, illustrated throughout by woodcuts taken from a 1650 Japanese edition of The Tale of Genji.

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