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Books by Han Kang
Han Kang (1970-) is a South Korean novelist, poet and short story writer. In 2024 she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature “for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.” Her most recent book to be translated into English is We Do Not Part, set in contemporary Korea but dealing with the Jeju massacre of 1948.
“A common thread in much of the South Korean literature I’ve read in translation, and something I love, is the focus on the average person…The Vegetarian is a novel about a woman called Yeong-hye. The first part of the novel is narrated by her husband, who describes her as being completely unremarkable. She’s a homemaker. She makes his dinner. She’s quiet. She wears black slip-on shoes. She’s a gentle presence that is always perfecting her surroundings. She can be seen as an accoutrement to the lives of those around her. I’ve chosen this book because it’s about how a seemingly average person is capable of extraordinary acts.” Read more...
Greek Lessons: A Novel
by Han Kang, translated by Deborah Smith and Emily Yae Won
Greek Lessons is the latest book by South Korean novelist Han Kang, author of The Vegetarian. In the book, a Greek language instructor finds himself drawn to one of his pupils, who is losing her ability to speak. He too is losing his sight. Two people are brought together by private anguish. Katie Kitamura has described the novel as "sinuous and sublime... an extraordinary meditation on language, violence, loss, and intimacy."
Interviews where books by Han Kang were recommended
The Notable Novels of Spring 2023, recommended by Cal Flyn
Spring is always an excellent time for literary fiction releases, and 2023 is no exception. Here, Five Books deputy editor Cal Flyn offers a round-up of the notable new novels of the season, from buzzy debuts to hotly anticipated new releases from internationally acclaimed authors like Eleanor Catton, Han Kang, and Salman Rushdie.
The best books on Being Average, recommended by Eleanor Ross
All of us are ultimately average, says author Eleanor Ross, and we should find that liberating rather than saddening. In this interview, she recommends five books across fiction and nonfiction that can help us understand and embrace our averageness.
