"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."--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 man--accomplished 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.