The Tale of Genji, Volume 1

By: Murasaki Shikibu, Dennis Washburn - translator

Narrated by: Brian Nishii

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 11th 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.

The Tale of Genji is presented here in a flowing new translation for contemporary listeners, who will discover in its depiction of the culture of the imperial court the rich complexity of human experience that simultaneously resonates with and challenges their own. Washburn embeds annotations for accessibility and clarity and renders the poetry into triplets to create prosodic analogues of the original.

©2015 Dennis Washburn (translation) (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Fascinating Story

This is the fascinating story of a handsome son of the Japanese emperor falling in love with many beautiful and talented women and treating them with respect but also pushing women into intimacy (really sexually assaulting them) and acting in an arrogant way and cheating on his true love. I thought this would be boring but was surprised at how engaging it was throughout the book.

Artistic? yes, but that’s it

The insight it gives is interesting and let’s you understand what the old Japan government was like, but this felt very much like a bad day time soap opera.

Reflecting dew, frozen across ages, fall warmly from my cheeks....

This work is so true today as it was then, a thousand years ago. This Is another reminder that our emotions and passions remain unchanged.

The translation and performance must be compared to the spender of Genji himself. No matter how many times we are reminded of Genji’s magnificence so too does this performance hold us in the fold time, bringing the story to life.

I cannot say enough to compliment this work.

One suggestion. Read the authors introduction after, not before. It may colour your expectations and I felt opened with apologetic comments about the customs of the time that should be well understood by most discerning listeners today.

A splendid reading of a sublime translation.

Especially appreciated are the poems, the descriptions of pre-Anthropocene nature and seasons, and the various characters' excited anticipation of predictable seasonal change. Shikibu probes human nature and relationships with insight, playfulness, and compassion. The Tale, ostensibly about Genji, is mostly about women and most likely originally for women and their daughters. I love that Shikibu's characters express delight at, even preference for, birth of a daughter, lavishing loving attention, praise and careful training on their daughters. Life in the women's quarter is devoted to artistic perfection, beauty behind the fan, and the sublime entertainments of Koto, brush work, and poetry, but Shikibu pulls back the screen to reveal the women's vulnerability, their fear, confusion and sorrow when unwanted attention threatens or an outrage is perpetrated. Shikibu shines a little candle on this dynamic of sexual power and privilege, so tenacious, still not yet overcome even in the present age. But Shikibu's Genji, perhaps surprisingly so for her first readers, was a special man among all those other callow fellows, because he at least had some self-insight and possessed an earnest desire to make amends, vowing to never abandon any of his conquests. It would seem that, however varied the cultural context, still universal are our human foibles and follies, and so love for Shikibu's work and the characters she created endures.

Fascinating. Often more relatable than you’d expect (Genji himself notwithstanding - he’s a d—-k).

Woof. Some of the aspects of ancient Japanese culture are challenging. But the author provides a wry, seemingly knowing perspective on this extremely(!) hierarchical strata of society. Though the woman narrator is constrained by the conventions of her world, she is clearly sleeved out and put out by many of the same things we are. Texts like this belie the popular claims of certain “western” “intellectuals” that women’s basic self-awareness and concern for their second-class status is a new and uncommon phenomenon.

Wild and dramatic from beginning to end

I laughed. I swooned. I was disgusted, even horrified at the plot of this book. As a protagonist, Genji is.... a lot.

Nishii does a great job reading. He changes his voice (some voices more rough, some more feminine, so more smooth) so it stays interesting even into the 30th hour. I go back and read some of the parts that were particularly shocking, because many things that happen in this book that would probably be banned in todays books was obscured through flowery and indirect language but once you really ingest it, it's like... wtf Genji?

I can just imagine the court ladies of the Heian period passing a chapter of this around and chatting about it like people do today with the Bachelor

Incredible Historical Tale of Ancient Japanese Classes and A Naughty Prince

Beautifully written by Lady Murasaki, this tale completely depicts the story of the ancient Prince Genji and his sexual/romantic entanglements. Ultimately, his actions cause him to be banished from the Royal Palace. However, the tale itself not withstanding, this is also a novel by an ancient Japanese writer whose work is exquisite. Listen to the introduction and note Lady Murasaki’s own story as a writer in feudal Japan.

Tales of Genji

Genji is described as perfect, but he is not. Generally, the story is tedious and primarily of historical significance, but it does provide insight into aspects of Japanese culture as to the importance of status and appearance. Beauty and birth are more important than good behavior. If you are discreet and of high status, bad behavior is ignored. Sentimentality is profound (tears flow constantly). Despite this, there are details of geography and seasons that are wonderful. I enjoyed the poetry the most. Occasionally, the author is quite humorous. I plan to trudge through volume two and hope to hear from other listeners.

Such an eloquent rendition!

I loved the translation and the reader was very good in both English and Japanese!!

I may not agree with but I couldn’t stop listening

I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading a Tale and that this was from a different time when women were regarded as second class citizens. We all make mistakes as humans but what’s admirable about the characters in this novel is how they each fought their own desires to make things right like Fujitsubo. While on the other hand, you have the virtuousity of Tamakazura. As a woman of the current times, with the freedom we now possess, we may not think of these things anymore or take these for consideration. Such a splendid read! I love the performance of the narrator. I just used another credit for Volume Two.