Long recognized as a core book in any study of Japanese culture and literature, The Nobility of Failure examines the lives and deaths of nine historical individuals who faced overwhelming odds, and, realizing they were doomed, accepted their fate--to be killed in battle or by execution, to wither in exile, or to escape through ritual suicide. Morris then turns his attention to the kamikaze pilots of World War II, who gave their lives in defense of their nation in the full realization that their deaths would have little effect on the course of the war. Through detail, crystal-clear prose and unmatched narrative sweep and brilliance, Professor Morris takes you into the innermost hearts of the Japanese people.

Introduction by Donald Keene; Translation by Ivan Morris

Born at the height of the Heian period, the pseudonymous Lady Sarashina reveals much about the Japanese literary tradition in this haunting self-portrait.

Ivan Morris's definitive and widely acclaimed portrait of the ceremonious and melancholy world of ancient Japan.
Using "The Tale of Genji" and other major literary works from Japan's Heian period as a frame of reference, "The World of the Shining Prince" recreates an era when women set the cultural tone. Focusing on the world of the emperor's court--a world deeply admired by Virginia Woolf, among others--renowned scholar of Japanese history and literature Ivan Morris explores the politics, society, religious life, and superstitions of the period.
Offering readers detailed portrayals of the daily lives of courtiers, the cult of beauty they espoused, and the intricate relations between the men and women of the age, "The World of the Shining Prince" has been a cornerstone text on ancient Japan for half a century.