Can I read The Tale of Genji on EtoBox?

The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu is a work of fiction available to read on EtoBox.

What is The Tale of Genji about?

**The most famous work of Japanese literature and the world's first novel—written a thousand years ago and one of the enduring classics of world literature.** Written centuries before the time of Shakespeare and even Chaucer, The Tale of Genji marks the birth of the novel—and after more than a millennium, this seminal work continues to enchant readers throughout the world. Lady Murasaki Shikibu and her tale's hero, Prince Genji, have had an unmatched influence on Japanese culture. Prince Genji manifests what was to become an image of the ideal Heian era courtier; gentle and passionate. Genji is also a master poet, dancer, musician and painter. The Tale of Genji follows Prince Genji through his many loves, and varied passions. This book has influenced not only generations of courtiers and samurai of the distant past, but artists and painters even in modern times—episodes in the tale have been incorporated into the design of kimonos and handicrafts, and the four-line poems called waka which dance throughout this work have earned it a place as a classic text in the study of poetry. This version by Kencho Suematsu was the first-ever translation in English. Condensed, it's a quarter len

Who reads The Tale of Genji?

Author

Murasaki Shikibu

Publisher

Vintage Classics

Published

1985

Language

EN

ISBN

9780394729213

Category

work of fiction

Subjects

Literary Fiction, Fiction, Poetry

Rating

3.71 / 5 (5 ratings)

Updated

2026-03-14