The Pillow Book

The Pillow Book

About the Book

The classic portrayal of court life in tenth-century Japan

Written by the court gentlewoman Sei Shonagon, ostensibly for her own amusement, The Pillow Book offers a fascinating exploration of life among the nobility at the height of the Heian period, describing the exquisite pleasures of a confined world in which poetry, love, fashion, and whim dominated, while harsh reality was kept firmly at a distance. Moving elegantly across a wide range of themes including nature, society, and her own flirtations, Sei Shonagon provides a witty and intimate window on a woman's life at court in classical Japan.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Read more
Close

About the Author

Sei Shonagon
Sei Shonagon (?966-?1017) was a gentlewoman in the court of Empress Teishi, in what is now Kyoto, Japan. She lived at the height of the Heian period and used the ins and outs of life at court to inspire her writing. More by Sei Shonagon
Decorative Carat

About the Author

Meredith McKinney
Meredith McKinney is the translator of the Penguin Classics editions of The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon and Kokoro by Natsume Soseki. More by Meredith McKinney
Decorative Carat

About the Author

Meredith McKinney
Meredith McKinney is the translator of the Penguin Classics editions of The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon and Kokoro by Natsume Soseki. More by Meredith McKinney
Decorative Carat

By clicking submit, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and understand that Penguin Random House collects certain categories of personal information for the purposes listed in that policy, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information and retains personal information in accordance with the policy. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime.

Random House Publishing Group