토지 11 - 3부 3권

토지 #11

by Pak Kyongni, 박경리

450 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Pak Kyongni (December 2, 1926 – May 5, 2008) was a prominent South Korean novelist. She was born in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, and later lived in Wonju Gangwon Province. Pak made her literary debut in 1955, with Gyesan (계산, Calculations). She is, however, most well known for her 16-volume story Toji (토지, The Land), an epic saga set on the turbulent history of Korea during 19th and 20th century. It was later adapted into a movie, a television series and an opera.

Pak Kyongni died from lung cancer at the age of 81 on May 5, 2008 and many literary men recollected her as a guide for their literary works and life as a writer. She was posthumously awarded the country's top medal by the newly created Culture Ministry of South Korea for her promoting South Korean arts.

Reviews

[Jungsook Chung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like vol.10, the vol. 11 covers the background of Korea from 1930 to 1938. While I am reading 'Land,' I become busy listening to the author, Kyongni Pak on the Youtube, which is scarcity, and listening to others' talking about Pak. I am very happy when I watch and listen to the author who looks handsome (not beautiful) and sounds very truthful as her work. I found out Pak was not able to read Korean until graduated from high school since Korean was not allowed to teach or speak by Japanese rules. She was sent to college to learn Korean for the first time by her father when Korea was liberated from Japan.

What I am trying to say that her knowledge of Japan is not only based on history books but on her own bitter experiences. She was born in 1926. In vol. 11, she argues about Japanese nationalism again and accuses it bitterly. The title of the ruler of Japan is higher than emperor; it is heavenly emperor, the higher title than any other countries' rulers. By being obedient without struggling, there is no struggling for truth either. The characteristics of Japanese is they unite so tightly for common goods even in the middle of serious conflicts among themselves. I witnessed this myself while I was in Japan in my youth. The character like Chanha who married Japanese woman is the one who is busy pointing out the weaknesses of Japan and Japanese. Japanese cruelty and injustice are shown in the conversations of the intellectual and awakened characters who have conflicts in the state of Korea in those days. That is why sometimes one person's argument is continued pages after pages.