A traditional Japanese artwork depicting an interaction between a seated man in a blue kimono and a standing woman in a purple kimono with green and orange accents, inside a room with a sliding door and a view of a garden beyond.

Splendor and Longing

Short Stories of the Heian Court

This novella presents a fictionalized account inspired by the court culture and literary figures of Heian-period Japan. While rooted in historical texture, the narrative reshapes events to explore how desire, language, and power intersect under constant observation. Here, poetry carries consequence, silence governs survival, and memory refuses to remain contained. What is omitted endures as forcefully as what is spoken. Enjoy!

Erick DuPree, PhD. 12/5/25 Erick DuPree, PhD. 12/5/25

Episode I: The Garden of Shadows

Inside the glittering Heian court, poetry is power and silence is strategy. Murasaki, Izumi, and Sei Shōnagon navigate desire, wit, and observation in a world where a single verse can elevate—or destroy. Beauty here is never innocent.