54 pages 1 hour read

Sei Shōnagon

The Pillow Book

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1002

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon is celebrated for its keen observations, poetic beauty, and historical significance, providing an intimate glimpse into Heian-era court life. However, some readers find its episodic structure and cultural specificity challenging. Overall, it is both a respected literary work and a revealing ethnographic record, though it may not appeal to all modern tastes.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Pillow Book?

Readers who appreciate The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon typically enjoy Japanese classical literature, personal reflections, and poetic prose. Fans of The Tale of Genji and The Tale of the Heike will find similar pleasure in the elegant observations and courtly life depicted in The Pillow Book.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre
Japanese Literature
Asian Literature
Creative Nonfiction
Period
Asian Literature
Topics
History: World