The Tale of Murasaki
The Tale of Murasaki is an elegant and brilliantly authentic historical novel by the author of Geisha and the only Westerner ever to have become a geisha.In the eleventh century Murasaki Shikibu wrote the world’s first novel, The Tale of Genji, the most popular work in the history of Japanese...
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The Tale of Murasaki is an elegant and brilliantly authentic historical novel by the author of Geisha and the only Westerner ever to have become a geisha.In the eleventh century Murasaki Shikibu wrote the world’s first novel, The Tale of Genji, the most popular work in the history of Japanese literature. In The Tale of Murasaki, Liza Dalby has created a breathtaking fictionalized narrative of the life of this timeless poet–a lonely girl who becomes such a compelling storyteller that she is invited to regale the empress with her tales. The Tale of Murasaki is the story of an enchanting time and an exotic place. Whether writing about mystical rice fields in the rainy mountains or the politics and intrigue of the royal court, Dalby breathes astonishing life into ancient Japan.
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Format: paperback
ISBN:
9780385497954 (0385497954)
Publish date: August 21st 2001
Publisher: Anchor
Pages no: 426
Edition language: English
Category:
Classics,
Novels,
Literature,
Cultural,
Book Club,
Historical Fiction,
Romance,
Asian Literature,
Asia,
Poetry,
Japan,
Japanese Literature
A gorgeous novel to read, and a delight. It's free of the usual idiocies that most Western novelists tend to throw into Japanese settings, and a must-read for anyone interested in Heian culture or The Tale of Genji. For the longer review, please go here:http://telynor.epinions.com/content_3821388147...
What really shines in this novel is the author's obvious passion and respect for her subject matter - 11th century Japan and the writer Murasaki Shikibu. This is an extremely detailed and well researched 'fictional biography'. She has used her extensive knowledge of the history and culture of Japa...
The first/only American to qualify as a geisha wrote this in the first person, as a semi-fictionalised autobiography of an 11th century author who was also lady-in-waiting to an empress. She was famous for the tales of a character called Genji, but also wrote poems and a journal. The modern author u...