The Tale of Genji

"The Tale of Genji" by Murasaki Shikibu is a classic novel written in the early 11th century. Often considered the world's first novel, it provides a detailed look into the lives and dreams of the Japanese aristocracy during the Heian period, primarily revolving around the life of the titular character, Genji, a nobleman with romantic entanglements and personal dilemmas. The opening of the novel introduces readers to the background of low-ranking Lady Kiritsubo, who becomes the beloved mistress of the Emperor. Despite their deep affection for each other, her status subjects her to the jealousy and ire of the higher-ranking ladies of the court, ultimately leading to her decline and death shortly after bearing the Emperor's son, Genji. This part of the narrative deftly sets the stage for the complex emotional landscape and courtly intrigues that shape Genji's character and future relationships, establishing a poignant tone of longing and loss that permeates the tale. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Murasaki Shikibu was a Japanese novelist, poet and lady-in-waiting at the Imperial court in the Heian period. She was best known as the author of The Tale of Genji, widely considered to be one of the world's first novels, written in Japanese between about 1000 and 1012. Murasaki Shikibu is a descriptive name; her personal name is unknown, but she may have been Fujiwara no Kaoruko (藤原香子), who was mentioned in a 1007 court diary as an imperial lady-in-waiting.