It was amusing to read how much Murasaki appeared to despise Sei Shonogan, the author of the famous The Pillow Book. But though the rows of names and descriptions of robes does pall after a while, there are some interesting insights to the culture. As mentioned in the introduction, it does appear that only fragments of the original diary have remained. Then at some point, the tone of the diary changes to become much more personal. The first half of the diary is a detailed description of the ceremonies taking place after the birth. It could be Ichijo's mother or his first wife. Also, whom did 'Her Majesty' and 'Her Excellency' refer to? One of them definitely refers to Empress Shoshi, but which one? And it's a mystery who the other woman is. There were times when there was a list of names and while it might have made sense to contemporaries, many of these names are now almost obscure. For instance, I frequently had no idea who was who and how they were related. Without the detailed introduction provided by the translator, putting everything into context, I would not have enjoyed the book as much as I did. The translation of my edition is done by Richard Bowring, a British historian specialising in Japanese history and culture. As a lady in waiting to Empress Shoshi, Murasaki writes about the birth of Shoshi's second son, Atshuhira, in The Diary of Lady Murasaki. She is the author of the famous Genji Monogatari, and by the time this diary was written, she had already become famous as an author. Murasaki Shikibu was one of the women renowned for producing Japanese literature during the Heian Era. Translated and introduced by RICHARD BOWRING This edition also includes an explanation of Japanese names and dates, appendices and updated further reading. In his illuminating introduction, Richard Bowing discusses what is known of Murasaki's life, and the religion, ceremonies, costumes, architecture and politics of her time, to explain the cultural background to her vivid evocation of court life. The Diary is also a work of great subtlety and intense personal reflection, as Murasaki makes penetrating insights into human psychology her pragmatic observations always balanced by an exquisite and pensive melancholy. Told in a series of vignettes, it offers revealing glimpses of the Japanese imperial palace the auspicious birth of a prince, rivalries between the Emperor's consorts, with sharp criticism of Murasaki's fellow ladies-in-waiting and drunken courtiers, and telling remarks about the timid Empress and her powerful father, Michinaga. 1020), author of The Tale of Genji, is an intimate picture of her life as tutor and companion to the young Empress Shoshi. I sem to be always conjuring up visions of the past' 'When I go out to sit on the veranda and gaze,
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