Murasaki Shikibu, born into the middle ranks of the aristocracy during the Heian period (794-1185 CE), wrote The Tale of Genji --widely considered the world\'s first novel--during the early years of the eleventh century.
Expansive, compelling, and sophisticated in its representation of ethical concerns and aesthetic ideals, Murasaki\'s Tale came to occupy a central place in Japan\'s remarkable history of artistic achievement and is now recognized as a masterpiece of world literature..
Murasaki Shikibu, born into the middle ranks of the aristocracy during the Heian period (794-1185 CE), wrote The Tale of Genji --widely considered the world\'s first novel--during the early years of the eleventh century