A History of Japanese Literature

What it is

This is a book written in 1899 by William George Aston, a British diplomat and scholar, surveying the history of Japanese literature over many centuries for English readers unfamiliar with the subject.

Why it matters

Aston's preface notes that before his generation, Japanese literature was almost unknown in Europe. His history would have discussed Murasaki Shikibu as a central figure of classical Japanese prose, helping to establish her place in the Western understanding of world literature.

• Why does Aston describe Japanese literature as