560. The Golden Age of Japan: Lady Murasaki and the Shining Prince (Part 1)

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The hosts discuss this as the supreme canonical classic of Japanese literature, with Tom describing reading it while in Japan as 'one of the great reading experiences of my life.' They use the Royal Tyler translation extensively throughout the episode.

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Tom quotes Ivan Morris's book, noting his observation that 'rarely in the history of the world has a country entirely free from external pressure as Japan was during this time so avidly acquired the fruits of an alien culture.'

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Tom mentions receiving a preview of this upcoming book by 'friend of the show' Chris Harding, and Dominic says he was reading it the previous night, calling it 'a very good book.' They quote Harding's description of Genji as 'irrepressibly amorous.'

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Mentioned at the very end of the episode as the subject of the next episode, described as written by another extraordinary woman at the Heian court whom Murasaki hated, and called 'one of the wittiest, most elegant, most brilliant' works.