The Pillow Book of SEI Shōnagon

The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon is a fascinating, detailed account of Japanese court life in the eleventh century. Written by a lady of the court at the height of Heian culture, this book enthralls with its lively gossip, witty observations, and subtle impressions. Lady Shonagon was an erstwhile rival of Lady Murasaki, whose novel, The Tale of Genji, fictionalized the elite world Lady Shonagon so eloquently relates. Featuring reflections on royal and religious ceremonies, nature, conversation, poetry, and many other subjects, The Pillow Book is an intimate look at the experiences and outlook of the Heian upper class, further enriched by Ivan Morris's extensive notes and critical contextualization.

Ivan Morris (1925-1976) was considered the most versatile Japanese translator of his generation and wrote widely on modern and ancient Japan. He taught at Columbia University and was chair of its Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures. His books include translations of Lady Sarashina's As I Crossed a Bridge of Dreams, Jiro Osaragi's The Journey, Ihara Saikaku's The Life of an Amorous Woman, and Yukio Mishima's The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, as well as several historical studies, including The Nobility of Failure: Tragic Heroes in the History of Japan, The World of the Shining Prince: Court Life in Ancient Japan, and Nationalism and the Right Wing in Japan: A Study of Postwar Trends.