Murasaki Shikibu (c. 973 – c. 1014 or 1025) was a Japanese
novelist, poet and lady-in-waiting at the Imperial court in the Heian
period. She is best known as the author of The Tale of Genji, written in
Japanese between about 1000 and 1012. She became a lady-in-waiting to
Empress Shōshi at the Imperial court around 1005, and continued to
write during her service, adding scenes from court life to her work,
reflected in The Diary of Lady Murasaki. After several years, she left
court and retired with Shōshi to the Lake Biwa region. Within a decade
of its completion, Genji was distributed throughout the provinces;
within a century it was recognized as a classic of Japanese literature
and became the subject of scholarly criticism. The Tale of Genji was
translated into English in the early 20th century; scholars continue to
recognize the importance of her work, which reflects Heian court society
at its peak.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murasaki_Shikibu>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1898:
The Fashoda Incident ended with French forces withdrawing after
several months of military stalemate with the British in Fashoda (now in
South Sudan).
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fashoda_Incident>
1942:
World War II: U.S. Marines and U.S. Army forces began an
attempt to encircle and destroy a regiment of Imperial Japanese Army
troops on Guadalcanal.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koli_Point_action>
1948:
The Chicago Daily Tribune published the erroneous headline
"Dewey Defeats Truman" in its early morning edition shortly after
incumbent U.S. president Harry S. Truman officially upset the heavily
favored governor of New York Thomas Dewey in the presidential election.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dewey_Defeats_Truman>
1957:
The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2, carrying the space dog
Laika as the first living creature to enter orbit around Earth.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laika>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
aid and abet:
1. (transitive)
2. To assist (someone) in an illegal act as an accessory or accomplice.
3. To assist someone in (an illegal act) as an accessory or accomplice.
4. (intransitive) To be an accessory or accomplice to someone in an
illegal act.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/aid_and_abet>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Now and then I miss you Oh, now and then I want you to be
there for me Always to return to me I know it's true It's all because
of you And if you go away I know you'll never stay.
--John Lennon
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Lennon>
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