The Tale of Genji. Book 3

The Tale of Genji, created at the turn of the 10th and 11th centuries by Murasaki Shikibu, a court lady of Empress Shyoshi, is considered one of the most outstanding works of Japanese literature. And not only Japanese - in fact, this is the first psychological novel in the world. Telling the story of the life of the main character - Shining Genji, the son of Emperor Kiritsubo, and his descendants, the author shares her observations and thoughts with readers. Detailed descriptions of everyday life, love and other human relationships permeated by the "sad charm of things" (mono-no aware) create the impression of meeting living people, intimate acquaintance with their feelings, thoughts, joys and sorrows, which are followed by the Heian era, its culture, life of the aristocracy, beliefs and customs. This edition includes the third part of "The Tale of Genji" (chapters 39-54), which deals with the last years of the life of Genji, the main character of the two previous parts of the novel published by the Folio publishing house, full of poignant references to the past, and about the complex and dramatic love affairs, woven into an almost detective story with a mysterious ending, of his descendants Niou and Kaoru with Ooigimi, Naka-no kimi and Ukifune, the beautiful daughters of the Eighth Hermit Prince, who lived with them in the Uji Mountains, beyond the capital