The Tale of Genji
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Product Description
Product Description
This is the prose masterpiece of the Heian era of the 10th and 11th centuries, which is recognized as a great period in Japanese literature. It is an account of the intricate, exquisite, highly ordered court culture which made such a masterpiece possible.
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First Sentence
IN the reign of a certain Emperor, whose name is unknown to us, there was, among the Niogo and Koyi of the Imperial Court, one who, though she was not of high birth, enjoyed the full tide of Royal favor. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
IN the reign of a certain Emperor, whose name is unknown to us, there was, among the Niogo and Koyi of the Imperial Court, one who, though she was not of high birth, enjoyed the full tide of Royal favor. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
52 of 54 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The Tale of Genji was written around the turn of the last millenium, when the Heian court of Japan was at its zenith.
Murasaki Shikibu's work has been called the world's first psychological novel and is a masterpiece far ahead of its time.
It tells the tale of the life of a Prince, Genji and how his life reflects the fortunes of the Japan of 1000 years ago. Rich in metaphor, the book can be seen as reflective of Murasaki's view of a world in decline.
More than this, though, the book is a truly educational insight into life in the Heian court - a life unparalleled anywhere else in the world. Aesthetics, social values, sexual attitudes and religion are all illustrated in Murasaki's careful, understated style. It is also rich in poetry and provides a beautiful example of the importance of poetry to Japanese society; an appreciation that has continued to the present day.
It contrasts with the work of Murasaki's contemporary, Sei Shonagon's "The Pillow Book", in both style and attitude but together they describe a society, almost unimagineable in modern times.
Seidenstecker has undertaken the monumental challenge of translating the medieval Japanese so that an English-speaking audience might enjoy The Tale of Genji, which stands alongside the finest of the world's great works of literature.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It's pushing it, maybe, to purport to review an acknowledged masterpiece of world literature on Amazon, but it might help potential readers to know how this book surprised me ...
When I bought it, the checkout man said he had a copy that had remained unread on his shelf ever since, like Finnegan's Wake. I knew just what he meant (and so do you).
For about the first third, I pretty much had to discipline myself to read it, and frankly found it hard going. [I speak as one who regularly rereads "Moby Dick" for pleasure here.] The world it depicts is very alien indeed, and the characters (including "Shining Genji" himself) ... not so easy to like. Murasaki is as clear-eyed about her characters as Jane Austen.
Then the novel takes fire (and the reader also begins to find his bearings in its strange world).
I stayed up into the small hours finishing this book - a thing I would never have believed possible when I began it.
I can't say anything about its excellence that hasn't already been said, but would just say that, although it would be daft to describe Murasaki as "feminist", she does a fine job of showing just how vulnerable and exploited even - or especially - high-born ladies were in her world. Even the kind men do continual harm.
But the book creates a whole world, and is far above anything so simple or vulgar as a "message".
When I bought it, the checkout man said he had a copy that had remained unread on his shelf ever since, like Finnegan's Wake. I knew just what he meant (and so do you).
For about the first third, I pretty much had to discipline myself to read it, and frankly found it hard going. [I speak as one who regularly rereads "Moby Dick" for pleasure here.] The world it depicts is very alien indeed, and the characters (including "Shining Genji" himself) ... not so easy to like. Murasaki is as clear-eyed about her characters as Jane Austen.
Then the novel takes fire (and the reader also begins to find his bearings in its strange world).
I stayed up into the small hours finishing this book - a thing I would never have believed possible when I began it.
I can't say anything about its excellence that hasn't already been said, but would just say that, although it would be daft to describe Murasaki as "feminist", she does a fine job of showing just how vulnerable and exploited even - or especially - high-born ladies were in her world. Even the kind men do continual harm.
But the book creates a whole world, and is far above anything so simple or vulgar as a "message".
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
So much has been said about Genji Monogatari: some say it is the world's first novel; others, the greatest novel ever written; others again an incomparable source of information on Heian Japan. For some it is a satire, for others a great love story. All these are probably true, but it depends on your point of view, culture and even your sex as to how true.
My reading showed me that it is one of the greatest of autobiographies. For me, Murasaki, whose own name we do not even know, is the true hero of the story. Genji himself is a cypher: yet for sure Murasaki loved him, or someone like him. In her book Murasaki stands revealed; it is one of the great acts of intimacy in world literature. She is tangible, present in every adjective, real, alive. She was a strong living personality, a passionate nature, possessing great sensitivity to nature (so much more than the conventional Heian pose) and one who loved deeply and was not able to express her love. Of Murasaki, the scholars tell us, we know nothing. But her book tells us as much as one person can tell another, and with such power that we can never forget her.
This is a book from a distant era. Its survival, composition, culture and conventions, even its authorship, have inspired scholarly debate. There is even a 'Murasaki question' to parallel the 'Homeric question', concerning who wrote the book. Homer is in fact a useful analogue, but we don't need to know any of this. Murasaki tells us all we need to know. Over 1,000 pages, 400 characters and many, many tankas, yet we never lose the way. I like to think that Murasaki never finished her book, and that somewhere she is still writing some later chapters, that someone who loved so deeply in 11th century Japan could be granted some special dispensation by those in charge.
My reading showed me that it is one of the greatest of autobiographies. For me, Murasaki, whose own name we do not even know, is the true hero of the story. Genji himself is a cypher: yet for sure Murasaki loved him, or someone like him. In her book Murasaki stands revealed; it is one of the great acts of intimacy in world literature. She is tangible, present in every adjective, real, alive. She was a strong living personality, a passionate nature, possessing great sensitivity to nature (so much more than the conventional Heian pose) and one who loved deeply and was not able to express her love. Of Murasaki, the scholars tell us, we know nothing. But her book tells us as much as one person can tell another, and with such power that we can never forget her.
This is a book from a distant era. Its survival, composition, culture and conventions, even its authorship, have inspired scholarly debate. There is even a 'Murasaki question' to parallel the 'Homeric question', concerning who wrote the book. Homer is in fact a useful analogue, but we don't need to know any of this. Murasaki tells us all we need to know. Over 1,000 pages, 400 characters and many, many tankas, yet we never lose the way. I like to think that Murasaki never finished her book, and that somewhere she is still writing some later chapters, that someone who loved so deeply in 11th century Japan could be granted some special dispensation by those in charge.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
great !
it looks really great with the green hard cover and the same-colour fabric bookmark inside
interesting story although some parts are a bit hard to understand (normally the... Read more
interesting story although some parts are a bit hard to understand (normally the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by mm123
DESERT ISLAND BOOK
Initially I thought this translation was rather ponderous, and I was finding it difficult to read. But, with patience, and reading this novel as a prose poem, the beauty and... Read more
Published on 15 Oct 2008 by pingpong
The best translation of Genji: spare and lyrical
The Tale of Genji itself is amazing: the first novel ever, perhaps the most beautiful prose ever written, etc, etc, so I won't go into that. Read more
Published on 25 Jan 2007 by Greshon
An excellent translation
This is an excellent translation of a classic and engaging novel. It takes a little getting used to the style, but once you are, you are intrigued by the descriptions of court... Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2006 by Spider Monkey
WOW!
Having just finished this book I am at a loss for words. An amazing story, inviting you into the folds of another culture that you won't want to leave. Read more
Published on 27 Aug 2002
A nice hardcover edition
This is not a review of the story. This review is to comment on this edition. The book is 212mm tall, 55mm thick and 135mm deep. Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2000
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