The Tale of Genji

The most famous work of Japanese literature and the world's first novel written a thousand years ago and one of the enduring classics of world literature.

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 millennium, 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.