The Tale of the Heike
Anonymous / Sadler, A. L. Often referred to as the "Iliad" of medieval Japanese literature, "The Tale of the Heike" is the epic 14th-century story of the struggle between the Taira clan and the Minamoto clan for control of Japan during the Genpei War, which lasted from 1180 to 1185. The story is told in episodes and was part of a long oral tradition in Japan of traveling bards or monks who would chant stories along to a "biwa, " an instrument similar to a lute. The sou...