In-Person

In Pieces: The Tale of Genji

Tuesday, December 08, 2026 | 12:00pm

Dec 08

We’ve been tackling books together in our In Pieces series since 2016. We break them into manageable pieces, focusing on one book over a handful of sessions, and consider why they hold such importance in the literary canon.

This fall, we'll dive into The Tale of Genji, the eleventh-century Japanese masterpiece considered the world’s first novel. Library members Maria Bertrand and Joe Heyd will lead our conversations. Readers can choose to read along with either the Tyler or Washburn translations. Our discussions will focus on select chapters.

We'll talk about this classic in four pieces: November 16, December 8, January 12, and February 9.

Registration required. Seats limited and reserved for Mercantile members and guests.