Novelist · 973 – 1014
Murasaki Shikibu
Little-Known Facts
- Murasaki Shikibu is a nickname; her real name has not survived.
- She wrote in Japanese rather than the Chinese expected of learned writing in her day.
Myths & Misconceptions
Is The Tale of Genji really the first novel?
It is widely cited as the world's first novel for its length, complex characters and psychological depth, though definitions of 'novel' vary among scholars.