Royall Tyler (born 1936) is a scholar and translator of classical Japanese literature. He earned a doctorate in Japanese literature from Columbia University and taught Japanese language, literature, and culture at institutions including the Australian National University. His translations have introduced English-language readers to Japanese tales, Noh drama, and major classical works. His complete translation of “The Tale of Genji,” produced over approximately eight years, conveys the intricate relationships and poetic language of the Heian court. In “The Tale of the Heike,” he adopted a performance-conscious style intended to recover the voice and rhythm of the work’s oral tradition.
