Worlds of The Tale of Genji

The Tale of Genji may be the world’s first novel. It is most definitely the first written by a woman. In the thousand years since it was written, it has transcended the narrow world of the Japanese court to become the core text of the entire Japanese literary tradition. Over the past century, Lady Murasaki’s tale has been translated into dozens of languages to become a classic of World Literature.

Join us for a day of cross-disciplinary conversation as we celebrate Professor Dennis Washburn’s “immensely scholarly” and “uncannily readable” new translation of Lady Murasaki’s masterpiece.

Supported by the Boston University Center for the Humanities, Department of World Languages & Literatures, Department of History of Art & Architecture, College of Arts & Sciences Dean's Office.