The Tale of Genji Free Audiobook Download

Author : Murasaki Shikibu

Murasaki Shikibu, born around 978 and believed to have died around 1031, is a celebrated Japanese writer best known for her seminal work, *The Tale of Genji*, which stands among the earliest examples of the novel as a literary form. As a poet and lady-in-waiting in the Heian court, she wielded significant influence on later fiction. Though her true name remains a subject of scholarly debate—some suggest it was Fujiwara Takako—her pen name, derived from a character who nicknamed her after the beautiful purple wisteria blossom, has become legendary. The term "Shikibu" refers to her father's role in the Bureau of Ceremony, further embedding her identity within the cultural and literary tapestry of her time.