Novel
북간도
Not translated into English
An Su-gil · 1967
Synopsis
Around 1870, three peasants from the Hamgyong frontier, Yi Han-bok, Chang Chi-deok and Choe Chil-seong, convinced that Gando is Korean land, cross into Manchuria, clear uncultivated land and found the village of Bibong. The Chinese authorities demand that they become subjects of the empire, on pain of being driven out; according to the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, one adopts the queue, another shaves his head, and Yi Han-bok keeps his topknot. The novel follows the family of Yi Han-bok over several generations, up to Manchukuo and the struggle against Japan.
Context
The first part appeared in the review Sasanggye in April 1959, the second in January 1961, the third in January 1963; the last two were published together in 1967, when the whole appeared from Samjungdang. The Encyclopedia sees in it a retelling, from the standpoint of national literature, of the author's Manchurian experience; Hong Beom-do runs through the last parts, built around the battles of Bongodong and Cheongsan-ri. It is criticised for the imbalance between the daily life of the first parts and the fighting of the last, and recent studies read in it a desire for rootedness rather than for return.
Who it is for
A long novel, in five parts, with many characters; a German translation appeared in 2019, none in French.
Prizes and reception
Regarded as a landmark of the Korean roman-fleuve, covering eighty years of family history.
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