The Tale of the Lady Ochikubo

This family saga of a wicked stepmother has been called the world's first novel. Written during the 10th century Heian Era and first translated into English and published by Kegan Paul in 1934, it follows the changing fortunes of the heroine, Lady Ochikubo, who is forced to live almost as a servant in her noble father's house while the stepmother gives preference in all things to her own daughters. Beautiful and clever, the Lady is told she is ugly and stupid, and kept indoors so no one knows of her existence. The story of how the Lady marries a powerful nobleman of the royal court and triumphs over adversity is told with emotion, wit and humour. A worthy precursor to Murasaki Shikibu's The Tale of Genji which was written some thirty years later, this masterpiece of Heian writing is a classic that richly deserves rediscovery. The work includes appendices on the literature and political organization of the Heian Era.