Thanks to a program of the University of Oxford's website, I recently could download (for free!) the entire text of the "Genji Monogatari", translated in English by Edwuard Seidensticker. I have read only about a quarter of the massive volume, but I can already post my impressions. It is without doubt a classic, and every time I pick it up, it continues to impress me with its freshness and beauty. The book was written around 1000 AD by Murasaki Shikibu, who was a maid of honour at the imperial court in Kyoto. It's the story of the splendid "bad boy" prince Genji and his many loves and romantic adventures around the Heian Kyoto.
The book surprises me for the modernity of the way the characters are represented and the feelings are expressed. At the same time, the many poems and the pace of the story has the same taste I love from the classics of Latin and Greek times. I think anyone interested in Japan SHOULD read Genji Monogatari. And even everyone else would appreciate it, as the story in itself is captivating. The novel contains everything... from romance, to horror (yes, horror), humor, religion... it's of course a look into middle age Japan, but also a wonderful story which is difficult to stop reading once picked up and an analysis of relationships from the point of view of man and woman. Every range of human feeling is displayed by the many characters, whose humanity is impressing.
Even in today's Japan, many places still bring to memory Murasaki Shikibu and her characters, of course especially around the area of Kyoto (but the idea of the story was conceived by Murasaki in Ishiyama dera, today in Otsu city).
GRAZIE MILLE！