Murasaki Shikibu: The Tale of Genji / Edition 2

by Richard Bowring

Overview

Murasaki Shikibu's The Tale of Genji, written in Japan in the early eleventh century, is acknowledged to be one of Japan's greatest literary achievements, and sometimes thought of as the world's first novel. This introduction to the Genji sketches its cultural background, offers detailed analysis of the text, including language and style, and traces the history of its reception through nine centuries of cultural change. First Edition Hb (1988): 0-521-33349-0 First Edition Pb (1988): 0-521-33636-8

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521539753
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	11/10/2003
Series:	Landmarks of World Literature (New)
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	122
Product dimensions:	4.88(w) x 7.91(h) x 0.51(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; Genji chapter titles; Genealogical chart; Part I. The Cultural Background: 1. Politics; 2. Murasaki Shikibu; 3. Religion; 4. Language; 5. A grammar of sexual relations; 6. History and fiction; Part II. The Tale of Genji: 7. Sexual politics (chapters 1-12); 8. Penance and restitution (chapters 12-21); 9. A prospect of flowers (chapters 22-33); 10. Dangerous obsessions (chapters 34-41); 11. A passion for self-destruction (chapters 42-54); Part III. Language and style: 12. The narrator's presence; 13. Kashiwagi's tortured mind; 14. Equivocal narration; 15. Poetry in prose; 16. Translations; Part IV. Impact, Influence and Reception: 17. Early textual history; 18. Murasaki in hell; 19. Medieval commentaries; 20. Tokugawa readings; 21. Modern readings; Guide to further reading.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

'… an erudite commentary encouraging the reader to investigate one of the most important Japanese texts by exploring a plethora of ideas in a guided but open manner.' Forum for Modern Language Studies

Editorial Reviews

'… an erudite commentary encouraging the reader to investigate one of the most important Japanese texts by exploring a plethora of ideas in a guided but open manner.' Forum for Modern Language Studies

From the Publisher