Korea
Last updated: July 27, 2023
With its rich history and vibrant cultural tapestry, Korea offers a literary landscape that is as diverse as it is enthralling. From the poetic verses of traditional Korean poetry to the gripping tales of modern Korean authors, the literature of this dynamic nation opens the doors to a myriad of emotions, perspectives, and experiences. Immerse yourself in the compelling stories that explore the complexities of Korean society, the struggles of its people, and the timeless themes of love, identity and human nature.
Korean author Han Kang won the International Booker Prize in 2016 with The Vegetarian. If you're interested in modern Korean history, a good introduction is Korea: A New History of South and North by Victor Cha and Ramon Pacheco Pardo.
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1
Hwang Chini
by Hong Sŏkchung, translation Bruce and Ju-Chan Fulton -
2
The Guest: A Novel
by Hwang Sok-yong, translated by Kyung-ja Chun and Maya West -
3
The Dwarf
by Cho Se-hǔi, translated by Bruce and Ju-Chan Fulton -
4
One Left: A Novel
by Kim Soom, translated by Bruce and Ju-Chan Fulton -
5
Togani
by Gong Ji-young, translated by Bruce and Ju-Chan Fulton
The Best Korean Novels, recommended by Bruce Fulton
The Best Korean Novels, recommended by Bruce Fulton
Korean popular culture—television, film, and music—has been sweeping the globe. But Korean literature is darker and more serious than you might assume, given the fun and irreverent nature of ‘K-pop.’ Here, the respected translator and academic Bruce Fulton highlights five key Korean novels that offer insight into the culture and troubled history of the Korean peninsula.
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1
Chinese Hegemony: Grand Strategy and International Institutions in East Asian History
by Feng Zhang -
2
Sacred Mandates: Asian International Relations since Chinggis Khan
by Timothy Brook (ed.) -
3
The Annals of King T'aejo: Founder of Korea's Choson Dynasty
by Choi Byonghyon -
4
Tradition, Treaties, and Trade: Qing Imperialism and Choson Korea, 1850-1910
by Kirk W. Larsen -
5
Cold War Crucible: The Korean Conflict and the Postwar World
by masuda hajimu
The best books on China Korea Relations, recommended by Odd Arne Westad
The best books on China Korea Relations, recommended by Odd Arne Westad
China has had close political and cultural relations with Korea for centuries and the history of that relationship can shed light on China’s approach to international relations more broadly—including in its imperial past. Yale historian Odd Arne Westad recommends the best books on China, Korea and the relationship between them.
The best books on The Korean War, recommended by Bruce Cumings
Before Vietnam, America fought in the Korean War—but its role in that conflict has been far less examined. Award-winning historian Bruce Cumings talks about the misconceptions many people still hold, and how they distort our understanding of the current North Korean regime.
The best books on The Asian American Experience, recommended by Sung J. Woo
The novelist reveals amongst his book selection that Minnesota has the highest number of Korean adoptees in the US (14,000), and that one in every 250 Korean births is adopted by an American family
