Murasaki Shikibu‘s The Tale of Genji is undoubtedly the longest book I’ve ever read.
My encounter with this literary masterpiece began during my first year of University. I was particularly drawn to the Japanese literature classes, especially when they delved into monogatari (short stories) and nikki (diaries).
Fascinated by the Heian period, I was instantly captivated by my professor’s description of The Tale of Genji and I knew I had to read it.
Widely considered the first Japanese novel, The Tale of Genji encapsulates the essence of the Heian era. It weaves together stories, myths, legends, religious elements, and poetic and musical forms, transporting the reader to a time long gone. Additionally, the book showcases a vast gallery of female characters, each with their own unique personalities and struggles.
At the time, there was no Italian translation directly from Japanese. I opted for “Storia di Genji – Il principe splendente“, translated from English by Adriana Motti clocking in at 1036 pages.
Fortunately, by the time I chose my thesis topic a few years later, a magnificent Italian translation from the Japanese by Professor Maria Teresa Orsi (“La storia di Genji“) had been published. This 1440-page edition not only includes the original story, but also delves into the lives of Genji‘s descendants. Moreover, it further enriches the reading experience with beautiful illustrations.
However, there are a few drawbacks to this edition. The pages are rather thin, and the extensive endnotes, while valuable, can be cumbersome to navigate due to the sheer size of the book.
So, yes, the book is long, the notes are pesky, and my arms got quite the workout. But would I trade the experience? Absolutely not. Genji and his world are simply unforgettable.