The Tale of the HeikeOne of the masterworks of Japanese literature, ranking with The Tale of Genji, in a groundbreaking new edition. From the acclaimed translator of The Tale of Genji, a groundbreaking rendering of Japan's great martial epic. The fourteenth century The Tale of the Heike is Japan's Iliada moving depiction of the late twelfth century wars between the Heike and Genji clans. No work has had a greater impact on later Japanese literature, theatre, music, film,