The Tale of Genji – Volume I

"Across the threshold of the eleventh century, Murasaki Shikibu’s The Tale of Genji emerges as the world’s first novel and a supreme masterpiece of Japanese literature." This first volume, rendered in Arthur Waley’s celebrated and lyrical translation, follows the early life and radiant adventures of Hikaru Genji, the "Shining Prince" of the Heian court. Comprising the first three parts—The Tale of Genji, The Sacred Tree, and A Wreath of Cloud—the narrative weaves a delicate tapestry of forbidden courtly romances, political intrigue, and the fleeting beauty of aristrocratic life. Through Waley’s elegant prose, Shikibu’s profound observations on memory, longing, and the transience of human emotion are brought to life, offering an unparalleled window into an ancient world of exquisite refinement and hidden sorrows.