Autobiography of Death

by Hyesoon Kim, Don Mee Choi (Translator)

'I thought to myself that I needed to sing death, perform a rite for death, write death, then bid farewell to it.' The title section of Kim Hyesoon's visceral Autobiography of Death consists of forty-nine poems, each poem representing a single day during which the spirit roams after death before it enters the cycle of reincarnation.

142 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 3, 2025

Reviews

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Autobiography of Death caught me off guard, as I had never heard of the 2014 Sewol Ferry tragedy. Its otherworldly lines are at times haunting and soothing. I found these poignant and thought-provoking poems mesmerising, losing myself between their lines and constantly stopping to reflect on their messages.
The art accompanying the poem is outstanding, and spoke to me like very few drawings ever did before.
As for the interview with the poet at the end of the book, it was simply a treat to be able to read the poems’ analyses from the poet herself. She offered another level of understanding.
If you can stomach the heart-wrenching topic, you can find beauty between these pages.

[Marko Mravunac · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not necessarily enjoyed all of the poems, but then I read the interview with the author, conducted by the translator and when I was given more context about this collection, I appreciated the idea behind it and the execution much more. Originally, I was intrigued and attracted by the cover, the title, and the literary prize the book received.