Murasaki Shikibu books in order
Japanese novelist and poet
- Lived
- 970–1100
- Country
- Japan
- Books
- 2
Murasaki Shikibu published 1 novel and 1 non-fiction book. The best-known is The Tale of Genji.
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Murasaki Shikibu
Standalone novels in order
The Tale of Genji (1925)
Non-fiction in order
The Diary of Lady Murasaki (1996)
Film and TV adaptations
- The Tale of Genji (1987)Film · from The Tale of Genji
- Genji Monogatari SennenkiTV · from The Tale of Genji
- The Tale of GenjiTV · from The Tale of Genji
Free to read
All free classics
About Murasaki Shikibu
Murasaki Shikibu , or Shijo , was a Japanese novelist, poet and lady-in-waiting at the Imperial court in the Heian period. She was best known as the author of The Tale of Genji, widely considered to be one of the world's first novels, written in Japanese between about 1000 and 1012. Murasaki Shikibu is a descriptive name; her personal name is unknown, but she may have been Fujiwara no Kaoruko (藤原香子), who was mentioned in a 1007 court diary as an imperial lady-in-waiting.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Murasaki Shikibu FAQ
- How many books has Murasaki Shikibu written?
- Murasaki Shikibu published 1 novel and 1 non-fiction book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Murasaki Shikibu's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Tale of Genji.
- What is Murasaki Shikibu's most famous book?
- The Tale of Genji is Murasaki Shikibu's most widely read book.
- Which Murasaki Shikibu books have been adapted?
- 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including The Tale of Genji (film, 1987).
- Can I read Murasaki Shikibu's books for free?
- Yes. 5 books by Murasaki Shikibu are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Murasaki Shikibu
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.