Description: One of the world's oldest novels and the greatest single work of Japanese literature, The Tale of Genji is a lengthy novel in six parts, the first part of which is also entitled The Tale of Genji (this first part is frequently read separately and it is that text which is reprinted here). It is thought to have been completed at the beginning of the 11th century by a lady of the Emperor's court. Centering on the career of Prince Genji and the women with whom he was associated, the work offers a vast tapestry of court life, its intrigues and rivalries, as well as an exquisitely detailed portrayal of a decaying aristocracy. Rich in poetry and wordplay, subtle and detailed social and psychological observations, the book has been compared in stature and significance with such Western classics as Cervantes' Don Quixote and Proust's Remembrance of Things Past. Arthur Waley's splendid translation of the first part of this tremendously influential masterpiece provides Western readers with a memorable taste of one of the world's first and greatest novels.

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