The Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki & the Inspiration for my Future Novel: Tension
It wasn't by choice that I read The Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki. I had already completed a year of British Literature which covered everything from Chaucer to Orwell. I took an Asian literature class only to satisfy a multi-cultural requirement.
I went in with low expectations. However, as much as I tried to resist liking The Tale of Genji, I can honestly say that no book has left such an impression. I remain haunted by its sensitive, melancholy, and psychological aspects.
The Tale of Genji in case you're not aware is considered the world's first novel and Japan's most exquisite piece of classical literature. It was written by a noblewoman in the 11th century and chronicled the life of a conflicted, philandering Prince in the Heian court.
For years, I've joked about writing fan fiction to support this ancient tale. In Tension, Ben is the descendant of Prince Genji and struggles as an Asian American in the contemporary United States. He briefly encounters the descendant of Lady Murasaki, Fina, when she is thirteen years old and on her way to Bangor, Maine.
Ten years later, Fina and Ben meet in Singapore neither having any recollection of their earlier introduction. Ben takes off to form a start-up. Meanwhile, Fina dreams of studying literature but lacks the resources for such leisurely pursuits. Thus, she embarks on a career as a bankruptcy attorney.
A decade later, Ben is filing chapter 11 while Fina is fighting to maintain her law license as she confronts allegations of professional misconduct by the D.C. Bar Association. Ben and Fina have endured far more contention than their ancestors could have imagined. And now both must resolve personal issues before either can achieve any real success.
Tension explores Eastern philosophy and connects with my trilogy: Lucifina: The Belle of Hell which focuses on Western religion.
I went in with low expectations. However, as much as I tried to resist liking The Tale of Genji, I can honestly say that no book has left such an impression. I remain haunted by its sensitive, melancholy, and psychological aspects.
The Tale of Genji in case you're not aware is considered the world's first novel and Japan's most exquisite piece of classical literature. It was written by a noblewoman in the 11th century and chronicled the life of a conflicted, philandering Prince in the Heian court.
For years, I've joked about writing fan fiction to support this ancient tale. In Tension, Ben is the descendant of Prince Genji and struggles as an Asian American in the contemporary United States. He briefly encounters the descendant of Lady Murasaki, Fina, when she is thirteen years old and on her way to Bangor, Maine.
Ten years later, Fina and Ben meet in Singapore neither having any recollection of their earlier introduction. Ben takes off to form a start-up. Meanwhile, Fina dreams of studying literature but lacks the resources for such leisurely pursuits. Thus, she embarks on a career as a bankruptcy attorney.
A decade later, Ben is filing chapter 11 while Fina is fighting to maintain her law license as she confronts allegations of professional misconduct by the D.C. Bar Association. Ben and Fina have endured far more contention than their ancestors could have imagined. And now both must resolve personal issues before either can achieve any real success.
Tension explores Eastern philosophy and connects with my trilogy: Lucifina: The Belle of Hell which focuses on Western religion.
#TheTaleofGenji #LadyMurasaki #HeianCourt #Kyoto #JapaneseLiterature #AsianLiterature #LiciaFlynn #Tension #History #Romance #Novels #Literature #Eurasian #AsianAmericanLiterature #Buddhism #Philosophy #Karma #Demons #Haunting #FanFiction #JapaneseHistory #Shogun #JamesClavell
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