Letters by Midnight - Japan, 11th Century

In the elite world of 11th-century Japan, matters of the heart unfold alongside matters of state. Where the ability to compose poetry and display quick wit counted for more than brute strength and male dominance. At the heart of the imperial court, two women (Sei Shonagon and Murasaki Shikibu) from rival factions kept diaries and penned extraordinary works of fiction making them the Japanese counterparts to William Shakespeare. In this special episode, the brilliant Meg Hyland takes the reins, guiding us through a world of elegance and rivalry, artistry and ambition.