The number of Korea-related publications in the Penguin Classics list can probably be counted on the fingers of one hand, and most are by ancient Confucian sages. The publisher’s blurb below says that if you like Lee Changrae’s The Surrendered you’ll like this: Richard E Kim’s The Martyred. Lee didn’t do a good sales job … [Read More]
Category: General book news (page 13)
Scorched Earth, Black Snow: Andrew Salmon presents his new book at the KCC
Last year Andrew Salmon presented his book To the Last Round at the KCC, in a fascinating evening. Another year, another book. To the Last Round is a great book, and it was sad that it really took the mainstream press a while to notice and appreciate it. This time round, the blogs and the … [Read More]
Book launch and talk on Ch’angguk by Dr Andrew Killick
Here’s something which I knew nothing about till a couple of days ago. But I’ll certainly be getting myself a copy. Book launch and talk on Ch’angguk by Dr Andrew Killick (Sheffield University) The Asian Performing Arts Forum (http://asianperformingartsforum.wordpress.com) is proud to sponsor a talk on Ch’angguk and book launch by Dr Andrew Killick at … [Read More]
“A major addition to world literature” – a report from the launch of the translation of Park Kyung-ni’s T’oji
Monday night at the KCC was part celebration, part education: the launch of an English translation of a major portion of one of Korea’s best-loved modern epics: Park Kyung-ni’s Land. The evening was fronted by the translation’s publisher, Global Oriental (now part of the 300 year old Brill publishing house), but the three speakers were … [Read More]
Michelin to issue Green Guide to Korea
About time too. Michelin finally releases a Green Guide to Korea. Now to collect those stars… http://bit.ly/mHfhl5 #. Currently only available in French, but in English from March 2012. [Read More]
The London Sillok (aka LKL) – First Book Launch
One of the great things about London Korean Links is that it offers a gateway to Korea for non-Koreans like myself who take comfort in the fact the editor, Philip Gowman, comes at the country from a familiar perspective. There was a glorious sense of understatement about the book launch of the new book, ‘Royal … [Read More]
DPRK-related books reviewed in Economist
Three DPRK-related books get a brief review in the Economist. Guy Delisle’s Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea, the latest James Church, and the thriller Maximum Target by Martin Gower: http://econ.st/mqErGC # Links: LKL reviews Guy Delisle: Pyongyang – A Journey in North Korea [Read More]
A celebration of the launch of Park Kyung-ni’s Land in translation
In the mid-90s Kegan Paul published what was billed as Part 1 of Park Kyung-ni’s epic novel, Land (Toji). Translated by Agnita Tennant (Née Hong), the volume extended to 657 pages. In fact, this was only half of Part 1. Global Oriental is now publishing all of it, in three volumes totalling 1,172 pages. There’s … [Read More]
T’oji hits the shops in May
1,172 pages and still only 20% complete. Park Kyung-ni’s The Land (T’oji) translated by Agnita Tennant hits the bookshops in May http://bit.ly/hlUvmT # [Read More]
The unstoppable “Please Look After Mother”
Not so long ago people were complaining that the Korean literature available in English translation wasn’t reaching out to a modern audience. Yes, there was a fair amount available, the argument went, but much of it lamented Korea’s travails during the colonial period, or explored the han-laden traumas of national division. Not something of much … [Read More]
More buzz about Please Look After Mom / Mother
Please Look After Mom seems to be the latest hot translation. Amazon are already telling me I would like it. http://bit.ly/gPTvD3 # Guess which translated Korean novel will be BBC Radio 4’s Book at Bedtime in early June. You only get one guess. @KTLit # KTLit: lol “mom?” lklinks: Right first time. The unstoppable Shin … [Read More]
Two recent low-lights in Korea-related publishing
Two recent books to avoid: Kimchi-flavored erotica? “In Deep Kimchi” on Amazon: http://amzn.to/fB5KfN. Looks totally dreadful, particularly as it seems to be about sex with a J-pop band #. Via KTLit.com. Charles Montgomery says a new book on Dokdo Thirty Three Shouts is “A Complete Waste of Time http://bit.ly/i6RIUT # [Read More]
Donguibogam to get English translation
The Donguibogam, the encyclopedia of Korean traditional medicine finished by Heo Jun in 1613, finally gets translation (http://bit.ly/ecjgvO #) in prepartation for the 400th anniversary of its publication. “The translation is almost done, and we will soon check the material a final time before publication,” said Shin Gyu-bum, an official at the Ministry of Health … [Read More]
Two new collections of literature in translation
Two welcome new publications of Korean literature in translation: Park Ji-won’s novels debut in English after 200 years: "Translation of Overlooked Worlds" http://bit.ly/ijKbQs # "Waxen Wings: The Acta Koreana Anthology of Short Fiction" Well worth a look – at http://bit.ly/g3PeGB # [Read More]
Kim Young-ha in Amazon bestseller list
Kim Young-ha’s Your Republic is Calling You made it to #38 in Amazon’s bestseller list – the first Korean novel in the top 100. http://bit.ly/eLFkhL #. Joongang Ilbo article on Korean authors getting foreign recognition also mentions Shin Kyung-sook, Jo Kyung-ran and Hwang Sok-yong. [Read More]
New Adoptee study: The Dance of Identities
Recently published by University of Hawai’i Press: The Dance of Identities: Korean Adoptees and Their Journey toward Empowerment Author: Palmer, John D. Korean adoptees have a difficult time relating to any of the racial identity models because they are people of color who often grew up in white homes and communities. Biracial and nonadopted people … [Read More]