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...

Since The Metropolitan Museum of Art's founding in New York City nearly 150 years ago, generations of artists have found boundless inspiration in its galleries. "The Artist Project" celebrates the role that great art plays in spurring creativity in the twenty-first century. Interviews with 120 international contemporary artists discussing works from The Met's collection that spark their imagination offer new insights into art, museums, and the creative...