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Overview
The Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki Shikibu is the world’s first famous novel
. Written in the early 11th century, this influential account of court life in Heian-era Japan follows the sparkling career of Prince Genji as he navigates love and loss. There are several translations of this important work, but this SparkNote relies on the first English-language translation, completed by Kenchō Suematsu in 1882. Although the original novel has 54 chapters, the Suematsu translation is abridged, containing only the first 17 chapters, which are devoted to Prince Genji’s youth and early adulthood.Read the full book summary, the full book analysis, and explanations of important quotes from The Tale of Genji.
