Here is the official press release from the British Council website: Leading Korean writers billed for market focus cultural programme at the London Book Fair 2014 The British Council, in partnership with The Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea) is delighted to announce the Korea Market Focus Cultural Programme for The London Book Fair … [Read More]
Books and literature (page 27)
Lee Jung-myung’s The Investigation to get UK publication
Coming in time for London Book Fair 2014: The Investigation by Lee Jung-myung. Inspired by a true story, the novel is described as “a captivating mystery and an epic lament for lost freedom and humanity in the darkest of times.” According to The List, the story is based on the life of “poet Yun Dong-ju … [Read More]
Get your translated Korean literature for free on your iPad
Thanks to Charles Montogomery at KTLit.com for spreading the word on this free resource available on iTunes, courtesy of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea. Chae Man-sik, Yi Sang, Yi Kwang-su and others are represented in the 19-story collection, with more to come later this year. It’s a nice-looking app, with added SNS capabilities. Here’s … [Read More]
Book Review: The Defections, by Hannah Michell. Put it on your wishlist
Hannah Michell: The Defections Quercus, 2014, 336pp THE BRITISH EMBASSY, SEOUL STAFF RECORD NAME: Kim, Mia D.O.B: 27/10/1979 POSITION: Translator REPORTS TO: Dalton-Ellis, Thomas NATIONALITY: Korean ETHNICITY: Mixed – Korean/British BACKGROUND NOTES: Born, was educated and lives in Seoul. Family – father, disabled – stepmother, seamstress – mother, English, unknown – uncle, runs school for … [Read More]
Jang Eun-jin: No One Writes Back. Just read it. You won’t regret it.
Jang Eun-jin: No One Writes Back First published in Korea as 아무도 편지하지 않다 by Munhak Tongne, Paju, 2009 This edition Dalkey Archive 2013 Translated by Jung Yewon I can’t remember having cried at the end of a novel before, particularly one in which nothing much happens. No One Writes Back is a beautiful gem … [Read More]
In a bookshop yesterday…
No, this is not *my* bookshelf (it’s part of the Korean section at the university bookshop yesterday), though I do have a couple of these. I don’t have the yellow one, and don’t propose buying it. But I really recommend Sonia Ryang’s Reading North Korea – a look at how North Korea’s relationship with the … [Read More]
“Leafie” author Hwang Sun-mi to feature in London Book Fair
We hear that up to ten Korean authors could be in town for the London Book Fair 2014. And the first name to be confirmed, in a London Book Fair press release issued last week, and reported further in the Korea Times, is Hwang Sun-mi, author of The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly, which … [Read More]
The challenges of marketing and translating Korean literature explored at the KCC
Shouvik Datta reports from the Korean Literature Forum at the KCCUK on 15 October. It was an interesting and well-attended discussion at the London Korean Cultural Centre on October 15, well chaired by the BBC journalist Samira Ahmed. My own knowledge of Korean literature is confined to the modern classic “Three Generations”, by Yom Sang-seop, … [Read More]
You’ve seen the film, now read the book
The Korean Film Council recently publicised on its website the new “Book to Film” initiative aimed at bringing together the film and the publishing industries. Of course, the practice adapting a book for the big screen is almost as old as the movie industry itself, and some of South Korea’s most successful movies have been … [Read More]
K-Lit in the Korean wave: a forum at the KCC
In the run-up to the London Book Fair in 2014, at which Korea is the focus country, we can expect more literature-themed events. Earlier this year, we had Krys Lee at Asia House; there are rumours that the London Korean Film Festival this year will have a literature-themed strand; and maybe in preparation for that … [Read More]
Dalkey Archive launches the Library of Korean Literature
A bit of exciting news for those interested in getting your hands on more Korean contemporary literature in English translation: Dalkey Archive Press have been working with the Literature Translation Institute of Korea to bring out a series of 25 titles over the next two years. The first ten will hit the shops and your … [Read More]
The 2013 Annual Korean Literature English Essay Contest
The KCC hasn’t participated in the KLTI’s Korean Literature Essay Contest for a while, but you can enter the competition directly on the KLTI’s website. Essays must be submitted by the end of September, and you have a choice of three texts which you can download for free: Knife Marks by Kim Aeran, The Glass … [Read More]
Book review: Martin Limón — The Joy Brigade
Martin Limón’s eighth novel in the Ernie Bascom and George Sueño series covers new ground in many respects. It is the first novel in which we see Sueño on his own, not accompanied by his buddy Bascom. And it is the first time that Limon has ventured to locate the plot in North Korea. This … [Read More]
Twinsters book deal announced
That sure is fast work: Twinsters Sam Futurman and Anais Bordier have signed a deal for the book of the film – and the film isn’t even made yet. According to AP, Penguin’s US affiliate G.P Putnam’s Sons will be publishing the memoir, which will be coming out in late 2014 – in time for … [Read More]
Talk, Tea & Books: KCC launches a new book club
An interesting new initiative from the KCC – a book discussion group. For discussion at its first meeting, Park Wan-suh’s Who Ate Up All the Shinga? in the translation by Yu Young-nan and Stephen Epstein, which many of you will remember as the subject of the KLTI’s second essay contest. The registration deadline for this … [Read More]
Kim Sung Ok: A Literature of and for the Self – Steve Capener at SOAS
On his way to a conference on Alternative Modernisms in Cardiff, Steve Capener gives a talk on one of my favourite authors. Kim Sung Ok: A Literature of and for the Self Steve Capener (Assistant Professor, Seoul Women’s University) 14 May 2013, 5:15 – 7:00 PM Russell Square Room 4421 Abstract After he took power … [Read More]