@KorvinStarmast I have read it

but as far as the English translation, I also read a book by someone talking about the time period it was written in and it's Author and he had some strong oppinions about which English translation was best but I didn't pay as much attention to that particular part and it was a while ago

also I have a strong inclination to believe that it was literally just his personal favorite translation, he was backing it like,... a little too hard?

@trogdor OK, thanks, I'll do some digging around.

I'll see if I can dig up the name of the book I read that talked about it

but anyway

I think Murasaki Shikibu was actually like, an extremely good writer

it might be due to the translations I read of both Genji and her personal writings

oh wait ok,... I think what I read was a travelogue or something

the Author went to Japan to learn some stuff about the Heian period (the name of the era in which she lived and also set Genji in)

also I may have read multiple books and be getting them confused with each other XD

@trogdor whatever assistance you can offer would be appreciated. :)

what in particular are you looking for in a particular translation of it?

@trogdor From what I read on good reads, some translations have notes about the period or the references the author makes to other stories, and others (some of the newer ones) are put into more modern vernacular. I think something that explains the refs, rather than just mentions them, will be more helpful.

ah ok

I suspect that it will take me quite some time to read it, which is not a problem for me, I have a few trips in the future that need an absorbing book

tis fair enough

I don't remember which translation I read myself

but even if I did I don't really remember if it was what you are looking for either

I just sorta remember the outline of the story

as it were

Thanks for any help you can offer; but I'll eventually have to take the plunge. :)

the book I read before it that had strong oppinions was talking mainly about Dennis Washburn and Aurthur Waley I think?

what I'm looking up says that the Royall Tyler one might be your best bet

it's a complete translation, it's the newest one, and it seems like the whole goal of it was to do a better job of getting the text closer to what the origional book was than the two main full english translations before it

and supposedly, at least according to what I am reading, it also has extensive notes about the history in it too?

so maybe that one is your best bet

in fact I am almost certain that isn't the one I have read and I think I want to give it a shot myself XD

at least at some point

in fact it was available on my Kindle so I picked it up XD

well, read it now so you can tell Korvin if it's any good

lol

Even if I were to start it as the next thing I read, which i might, I'm not sure he has the time for me to finish the whole thing before starting it himself XD

@trogdor OK, I just checked, in, that sounds like the kind of thing I am looking for. Thanks! :) @Carcer chuckle

cool