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The Tale of Genji

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( 15,021 ratings, 1,674 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Tale of Genji is a classic work of Japanese literature written by Murasaki Shikibu. It unfolds the intricate life and loves of Hikaru Genji, a nobleman in the imperial court during the Heian period. Through delicate narrative prose, the novel paints a vivid picture of courtly life, exploring themes of romance, politics, and the fleeting nature of beauty and happiness.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This edition is ideal for readers interested in classic world literature, Japanese culture, and historical fiction. It suits those seeking a thoughtful translation that balances fidelity with readability, appealing to scholars and general readers alike.

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"A Norton Library edition of Murasaki Shikibu's The Tale of Genji, translated by Dennis Washburn"--

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

About Dennis Washburn's translation

"Washburn's version of Murasaki Shikibu's masterpiece is lucid and engaging, irresistibly drawing the reader further and further into the story and the exquisite world it creates for us of Japan's Heian court. A fresh and invaluable The Tale of Genji for those of us reuniting with a familiar friend and those encountering it for the very first time."

-VALERIE HENITIUK, author of Worlding Sei Shonagon: The Pillow Book in Translation

Series: The Norton Library

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Washburn's translation is praised for its clarity and engaging style, making the complex world of Japan's Heian court accessible and inviting to modern readers. Valued both by those new to the story and those familiar with this timeless masterpiece, it revitalises the experience of The Tale of Genji.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780393427912

Publisher: WW Norton & Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 September 2021

Country: United States

Imprint: WW Norton & Co

Contributors:

  • Translated by Dennis Washburn

Audience: Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 38.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 550g

Pages: 848

About the Author

Dennis Washburn is the Burlington northern Foundation professor of Asian studies at Dartmouth College. He holds a Ph.D. in Japanese Language and Literature from Yale University and has authored and edited studies on a range of literary and cultural topics. These include: The Dilemma of the Modern in Japanese Fiction; Translating Mount Fuji: Modern Japanese Fiction and the Ethics of Identity; and The Affect of Difference: Representations of Race in East Asian Empire. In addition to his scholarly publications, he has translated several works of Japanese fiction, including Yokomitsu Riichi’s Shanghai, Tsushima Tsushima Tuko’s Laughing Wolf, and Mizukami Tsutomu’s The Temple of the Wild Geese, for which he was awarded the US-Japan Friendship Commission Prize. In 2004 he was awarded the Japan Foreign Minister’s citation for promoting cross-cultural understanding.

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