This is a very old Japanese novel that has six parts. My copy is a 1925 translation of just the first part. Genji was the illegitimate son of the emperor and had many privileges, including his own palace. He was unhappily married and spent a great deal of time in the company of women who were not his wife. Most of the book described his adventures based on the troubles caused during his evenings away. The interesting aspect of this was the poetic communication to arrange these evenings, with short verses sent back and forth. It is amusing to imagine this now- sending a poetic text somehow would not have the same feel.

SOME SPOILERS:
In some ways this was difficult reading. Women of Genji's acquaintance essentially belong to him. They make discreet arrangements and try to oblige him so that they will not be seen as frigid. In this world, it is possible to essentially adopt a child and when raised to be sufficiently what is desired, take sexual advantage. It is really clear to a modern audience that rape occurred. It is also clear to Genji that his advances were unwanted, but he feels entitled and expresses that eventually the young lady will get over it and love him. Throughout the book Genji was presented as extremely handsome, intelligent, and graceful. By the end of the book he just seemed like a rapist- his ward clearly felt that trust was violated. Where context is relevant is that Genji is shown as having the right to violate that trust and this event does not seem out of the ordinary to the other characters.

I admit that this book has value in that it is a relic of a different time period, but just couldn't enjoy it in the end. It is possible that reading the complete version would allow a picture of Genji that is more favorable. This book could be recommended to anyone interested in the time period. ( )