These seven essays by the most recent English translator of The Tale of Genji emphasize three major interpretive issues. What is the place of the hero (Hikaru Genji) in the work? What story gives the narrative underlying continuity and form? And how does the closing section of the tale (especially the ten 'Uji chapters') relate to what precedes it? Written over a period of nine years, the essays suggest fresh, thought-provoking perspectives on Japan¿s greatest literary classic.
Murasaki Shikibu's The Tale of Genji is variously read as a work of feminist protest, the world's first psychological novel and even as a post-modern masterpiece. Commonly seen as Japan's greatest literary work, its literary, cultural, and historical significance has been thoroughly acknowledged. As a work focused on the complexities of Japanese court life in the Heian period, however, the The Tale of Genji has never before been the subject of philosophical investigation. The essays in this volume address this oversight, arguing that the work contains much that lends itself to philosophical analysis. The authors of this volume demonstrate that The Tale of Genji confronts universal themes such as the nature and exercise of political power, freedom, individual autonomy and agency, renunciation, gender, and self-expression; it raises deep concerns about aesthetics and the role of art, causality, the relation of man to nature, memory, and death itself. Although Murasaki Shikibu may not express these themes in the text as explicitly philosophical problems, the complex psychological tensions she describes and her observations about human conduct reveal an underlying framework of philosophical assumptions about the world of the novel that have implications for how we understand these concerns beyond the world of Genji. Each essay in this collection reveals a part of this framework, situating individual themes within larger philosophical and historical contexts. In doing so, the essays both challenge prevailing views of the novel and each other, offering a range of philosophical interpretations of the text and emphasizing the The Tale of Genji's place as a masterful work of literature with broad philosophical significance.
"The eleventh-century masterpiece The Tale of Genji casts a long shadow across the literary terrain of the Heian period (794–1185). It has dominated critical and popular reception of Heian literary production and become the definitive expression of the aesthetics, poetics, and politics of life in the Heian court. But the brilliance of Genji has eclipsed the works of later Heian authors, who have since been displaced from the canon and relegated to critical obscurity. Charo B. D’Etcheverry calls for a reevaluation of late Heian fiction by shedding new light upon this undervalued body of work. D’Etcheverry examines three representative texts—The Tale of Sagoromo, The Tale of the Hamamatsu Middle Counselor, and Nezame at Night—as legitimate heirs to the literary legacy of Genji and as valuable indexes to the literary tastes and readerly expectations that evolved over the Heian period. Balancing careful analyses of plot, character, and motif with keen insights into the cultural and political milieu of the late Heian period, D’Etcheverry argues that we should read such works not as mere derivatives of a canonical text, but as dynamic fictional commentaries and variations upon the tropes and subplots that continue to resonate with readers of Genji."
Calling all precocious princesses! This series is sure to be a hit with girls who love a big dose of humor and adventure with their princess fix. Rules for Being a Princess: 1. Your name must be on the Fairy Godmother’s list. 2. You must always be elegant and graceful. 3. A unicorn must choose you. When Grace arrives at Tall Towers Princess Academy, her name isn’t on the Fairy Godmother’s list of students. She isn’t elegant at all—not even her curtsy is graceful. And all the other girls are sure she’s headed straight back to her tiny, messy kingdom. But one unicorn knows better. He’s clumsy and dirty and the perfect match for Grace! And together they have tons of fun. But the other princesses aren’t convinced Grace belongs at the academy. Can she prove that being a princess is about more than just being perfect?
Book three in the Faithgirlz Princess in Camo series, Dog Show Disaster is sure to capture the imagination of young readers as they follow adventurous Allie Carroway and her cousins as they experience life in the Louisiana Bayou and on the television screen as reality TV stars. Written by reality TV stars Missy and Mia Robertson, the third book in the Princess in Camo series—Dog Show Disaster—finds reality TV star Allie Carroway in over her head! When Allie is unanimously elected by her schoolmates as the Student Project Manager of this year’s end-of-the-year school carnival and fundraiser she is excited. But almost immediately things start going haywire. Dog Show Disaster: Is the third book in the Faithgirlz Princess in Camo series Explores the nature of a family filled with social, cultural, and physical diversity Is the perfect fiction series for readers 8-12 Features trending topics such as bullying
An abridged edition of the world’s first novel, in a translation that is “likely to be the definitive edition . . . for many years to come” (The Wall Street Journal) A Penguin Classic Written in the eleventh century, this exquisite portrait of courtly life in medieval Japan is widely celebrated as the world’s first novel—and is certainly one of its finest. Genji, the Shining Prince, is the son of an emperor. He is a passionate character whose tempestuous nature, family circumstances, love affairs, alliances, and shifting political fortunes form the core of this magnificent epic. Royall Tyler’s superior translation is detailed, poetic, and superbly true to the Japanese original while allowing the modern reader to appreciate it as a contemporary treasure. In this deftly abridged edition, Tyler focuses on the early chapters, which vividly evoke Genji as a young man and leave him at his first moment of triumph. This edition also includes detailed notes, glossaries, character lists, and chronologies.
Return to the world of Meg Cabot's bestselling and beloved Princess Diaries series in From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess—this time through the illustrated diary of a spunky new heroine: Princess Mia's long lost half-sister, Olivia! Olivia Grace Clarisse Mignonette Harrison is a completely average twelve-year-old: average height, average weight, average brown hair of average length, average brown skin and average hazel eyes. The only things about her that aren't average are her name (too long and princess themed), her ability to draw animals (useful for her future career as a wildlife illustrator), and the fact that she is a half-orphan who has never met her father and is forced to live with her aunt and uncle (who treat her almost like their own kids, so she doesn't want to complain). Then one completely average day, everything goes wrong: the most popular girl in school, Annabelle Jenkins, threatens to beat her up, the principal gives her a demerit, and she's knocked down at the bus stop . . . Until a limo containing Princess Mia Thermopolis of Genovia pulls up to invite her to New York to finally meet her father, who promptly invites her to come live with him, Mia, Grandmère and her two fabulous poodles . . . . Maybe Olivia Grace Clarisse Mignonette Harrison isn't so average after all!
Upon his nation’s victory against the Kingdom of Sylvario, Brigandian knight Ark McGuine is sent to collect Princess Sonia of Sylvario, whose hand in marriage had been offered in exchange for lesser financial reparations. But when she doesn’t arrive by the agreed date, he’s forced to spearhead an investigation into why. As a horrible tale of mistreatment and negligence comes to light, he grows more and more drawn to a woman he’s never met, but it all ends tragically: Princess Sonia perished on the way to her new home from her country’s own capital, and her own family members were at fault! Ark eventually returns to Brigandia, despairing over a love that could have been...until he runs into a girl named “Nia” in his own kingdom’s capital who looks exactly like the princess!
An atmospheric and romantic debut fantasy perfect for fans of Ash and The Winner’s Curse. Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile kingdoms. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a land where magic is forbidden. Now Denna has to learn the ways of her new kingdom while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses before her coronation—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine, sister of her betrothed. When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two work together, they discover there is more to one another than they thought—and soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more. But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other. Plus don't miss the sequel: Of Ice and Shadows!
"The pampered princess became his lowest concubine!" You killed my wife! You owe me this! " The man sneered, shaming her like a crazed demon ... In order to avenge his wife, he actually killed her royal brother and destroyed her country. And now, he still wanted her love?! What a joke! "Hahaha ..." The woman laughed heartily while tears streamed down her face. "My dear concubine, you've already fallen in love with me, haven't you?" The man smiled complacently. Love? Do you mean this? " The woman stabbed the dagger towards her chest, while blood flowed out from the man's body ...
