A masterpiece of world literature; the samurai saga of pride, romance, and warfare of medieval Japan, with a reflection on the fleeting nature of power and glory begins "The Tale of the Heike," an epic from twelfth-century Japan. Comparable in stature to "The Tale of Genji," "The Tale of the Heike" narrates with wit, energy, and compassion the stories of such unforgettable characters as the ruthless warlord Kiyomori, who dies still burning with such rage that water poured on him boils; Hotoke, the beautiful young dancer who renounces wealth and fame to follow her conscience; Shigemori, the tyrant's righteous son, who struggles against all odds to uphold fairness and justice; and Yoshitsune, the daring commander who defeats the enemy in battle after battle, only to be condemned by his jealous, powerful brother.