A Lady in Kyoto - Sei Shōnagon

"...A Lady in Kyoto offers a remarkable insight into the culture of the 11th-century Japanese imperial court. Written by Sei Shōnagon, a court lady in service to the Empress Teishi, this text recalls the author’s more famous work, The Pillow Book, as both are characterised by her lucid observations and poetic prose. A great work of literary craftsmanship in its own right, A Lady in Kyoto is a beautiful text that, despite its age, remains timeless. Its enduring beauty perhaps means that this work is better read as a long poem rather than a short book. Either way, this is an impressive work of literature that far exceeds the sum of its pages." - Goodreads reviewer