This collection of diaries chronicles the lives of three women at court during the Heian era. The women detail their marriages, affairs, and travels across the country in three distinct styles. Lady Sarashina’s work stands out for its descriptions of her travels and pilgrimages, making it one of the first in the genre of travel writing. Murasaki Shikibu’s diary consists of a number of vignettes portraying important events, and Izumi Shikibu used her strength as a poet to detail her life in a collection of poetry.

The Heian period is considered the peak of the Japanese imperial court and noted for its art, particularly poetry and literature. Nobles and ladies-in-waiting were expected to be well versed in the art of writing poetry as a mark of their status. Every occasion could call for the writing of a verse, from the birth of a child to the coronation of an emperor, or even a pretty scene of nature. The Lives of Three Women in 11th Century Japan is a collection of historical records detailing the role poetry and literature played in the Heian imperial court.

This cloth-bound book includes a Victorian inspired dust-jacket, and is limited to 100 copies.