{"product_id":"the-pillow-book-9780486834436","title":"The Pillow Book","description":"In the tenth century, Japan was both physically and culturally isolated from the rest of the world. \u003ci\u003eThe Pillow Book\u003c\/i\u003e recaptures this lost world with the diary of a young court lady. Sei Shōnagon was a contemporary of Murasaki Shikibu, who wrote the well-known novel \u003ci\u003eThe Tale of Genji. \u003c\/i\u003eUnlike the latter's fictionalized view of the Heian-era court, Shōnagon's journal provides a lively miscellany of anecdotes, observations, and gossip, intended to be read in juicy bits and pieces. \u003cbr\u003e This unique volume was first rendered into English in 1889. In 1928, Arthur Waley, a seminal figure in the Western studies of Japanese culture, undertook a translation. The distinguished scholar devised this abridged version of the text, re-creating in English the stylistic beauty of its prose and the vitality of its narrative. Waley's interpretation offers a fascinating glimpse of the artistic pursuits of the royal court and its constant round of rituals, festivals, and ceremonies.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Dover Publications","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50324859322642,"sku":"9780486834436","price":5.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_6ef45fe8-5ec8-4f25-9115-97f72e431ead.jpg?v=1727676718","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-pillow-book-9780486834436","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}