Tale of Genji

<b>An abridged edition of the world's first novel in a translation that is likely to be the definitive edition . . . for many years to come (<i>The Wall Street Journal</i>)</b> <p/> <b>A Penguin Classic<br></b><br> Written in the eleventh century this exquisite portrait of courtly life in medieval Japan is widely celebrated as the world's first novel--and is certainly one of its finest. Genji the Shining Prince is the son of an emperor. He is a passionate character whose tempestuous nature family circumstances love affairs alliances and shifting political fortunes form the core of this magnificent epic. <p/> Royall Tyler's superior translation is detailed poetic and superbly true to the Japanese original while allowing the modern reader to appreciate it as a contemporary treasure. In this deftly abridged edition Tyler focuses on the early chapters which vividly evoke Genji as a young man and leave him at his first moment of triumph. This edition also includes detailed notes glossaries character lists and chronologies.