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Book synopsis

This historical novel, Encounter (Mannam), by Hahn Moo-Sook, one of Asia's most honored writers, is a story of the resilience in the Korean spirit. It is told through the experiences of Tasan, a high-ranking official and foremost Neo-Confucian scholar at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Because of Tasan's fascination with Western learning, then synonymous with Catholicism, he is exiled to a remote province for 18 years. In banishment he meets people from various social and religious backgrounds--Buddhist monks, peasants, shamans--whom he would not otherwise have met. The events of Tasan's life are effectively used to depict the confluence of Buddhist, Neo-Confucian, Taoist, and shamanistic beliefs in traditional Korea. A subplot involves three young sisters, the daughters of a prominent Catholic aristocrat, and affords the reader vivid glimpses into Yi-dynasty women's lives, particularly those of palace ladies, scholars' wives, tavern keepers, shamans, and slaves. In contrast to the long-held Confucian stereotype of female subservience, this story illustrates the richness of women's contribution to Korean culture and tradition. Encounter's detailed narrative provides a broad and informed view of nineteenth-century Korea, making it a highly useful book for courses on Korean literature and society. It will also be an engaging read for lovers of historical fiction.

Book details

Book category Books in English Fiction & related items Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945)

• Full title: Encounter
• Subtitle: A Novel of Nineteenth-Century Korea
• Author: Moo-Sook Hahn
• Language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352
• EAN: 9780520073814
• ISBN: 0520073819
• ID: 04664968
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Weight: 544 g
• Dimensions: 225 × 152 × 23 mm
• Date of publishing: 30. October 1992

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