The tale of Genji: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The tale of Genji: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The tale of Genji is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Murasaki Shikibu. The listed translation credits are Waley, Arthur (1889–1966).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The tale of Genji" by Murasaki Shikibu is a classic work of Japanese literature written in the early 11th century. Often considered the world's first novel, it depicts the lives of high courtiers during the Heian period. The story follows Hikaru Genji, the emperor's son demoted to commoner status, through his romantic encounters and later years. The narrative continues with his descendants, weaving together hundreds of characters across multiple generations in this monumental work of court life and forbidden love.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The tale of Genji
- Author credits: Murasaki Shikibu
- Catalogue language: English
- Translator credits: Waley, Arthur (1889–1966)
Catalogue subjects
- Aristocracy (Social class) -- Japan -- Fiction
- Hikaru Genji (Fictitious character) -- Fiction
- Japan -- Court and courtiers -- Fiction
- Japan -- Social life and customs -- To 1600 -- Fiction
- Japanese fiction -- To 1600 -- Translations into English
- Man-woman relationships -- Fiction
- Princes -- Japan -- Fiction
- Psychological fiction
- Romance fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Novels
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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