The Tale of Genji by Shikibu Murasaki, dennis washburn (translator)
Murasaki Shikibu
Written centuries before the time of Shakespeare and even Chaucer, The Tale of Genji marks the birth of the novel - and after more than a millenium, this seminal work continues to enchant readers throughout the world. Lady Murasaki Shikibu and her tale's hero, Prince Genji, have had an unmatched influence on Japanese culture. Prince Genji manifests what was to become an image of the ideal Heian-era courtier; gentle and passionate, Genji is also a master poet, dancer, musician and painter. The Tale of Genji follows Prince Genji through his many loves, and varied passions. This book has influenced not only generations of courtiers and samurai of the distant past, but artists and painters even in modern times - episodes in the tale have been incorporated into the design of kimonos and handicrafts, and the four-line poems called waka which dance throughout this work have earned it a place as a classic text in the study of poetry. Lady Murasaki Shikibu, born in the year 978, was a member of the famed Fujiwara clan - one of the most influential families of the Heian period. Her literary ability quickly won her place in the entourage of the Empress Akiko, whose court valued the rare woman who was a master of writing. After the death of her husband, Murasaki Shikibu immersed herself in Buddhism, and the religion's influences permeate her writing.
Publication Year: 2015
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'The Tale of Genji' is a heavy lift. This 1100-year-old story; considered by many to be the world's first novel; reflects a time, culture, and sensibility so alien to my own that I found it offputting at best, offensive at worst, and boring throughout.
Hikaru Genji is the son of a Japanese Emperor of the Heian period. He's incredibly attractive, charismatic, smart, and capable. He's also a serial rapist, sexual harasser, sexual abuser, pedophile, and all-around sex pest. Most of the book is about him going about the Japanese Imperial Court raping people and getting promoted. Eventually, someone rapes one of his wives and sires a son by her, so he blames his wife. What a scumbag.
Once he dies, the story goes on to the tale of his grandson and the grandson's friend, who carry on the family tradition of rape, sexual assault, and so on. Together, the two drive a young woman to attempt suicide. She's blamed for her selfishness because Heian culture seemed to assume that it was women's jobs to be completely prostrate before the whims and desires of men, and anything else was considered scandalous.
All this is framed as normal, which leads me to believe that Heian culture was so alien from my own that the book gave me no entry points. I couldn't relate to its characters, which made it extremely difficult to empathize with them and emotionally involve myself in their stories. Consequently, I spent most of this audiobook's 72.8 hours waiting for it to be over.
But, hey, now I've read 'The Tale of Genji.' That was the last of the literary mountains on my list. I'm off to cleanse my palate with a nice science fiction adventure.
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