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푸른 운하

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380 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 1988

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About the author

Pak Kyongni

35 books40 followers
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.

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Displaying 1 of 1 review
Profile Image for Sunny.
913 reviews22 followers
April 8, 2021
From the regional library Korean language material

Found this lone book from the regional library lending service list. Wonder how this one book (seems like one out of a set of the author's works) ended up at the library.

Started the book without much anticipation, but I got hooked on from the first page. It reminded me of a description of main heroin in her other book 'Land'.

The story is about three people tangled in love-interests 1-2 years prior to 4.19 (1960). While reading I felt strange nostalgia- it's funny when I feel nostalgia about time and place I have never lived. Narration of the story, oddly reminded me of the conversations between my mother and grandmother. When the family get together on holidays, they would have these long meandering chat about the time when my mother was a young girl.

There's no directly historical or political events explained in the story. It's almost like these three young people were living their lives so separately from political turmoils of the time. However, the author talks about 4.19 (and prior 3.15 MaSan movement) indirectly.

"그들의 죽음 자체는 영웅이라기보다 처참한 발악의 비극인 것이다. 박지태도 그러한 죽음을 당한 것이다. 개처럼 비참하게 죽어간 것이다. 그는 영웅도 아니요, 우국지사도 아니었다. 그의 젊음이 억압당했던 군대라는, 그리고 현실이라는 형장에서 빠져나오고 싶었을 뿐이다. 그것이 결국 현실을 부정하게 된 원인이었던 것이다."
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