Han Kang is a South Korean writer who is known for her experimental fiction and her works that address humanity’s capacity for violence.
It tells the story of a novelist, Gyeong-ha, who travel to Jeju at the request of her friend, to rescue a bird she says has been left alone at her home.
The Vegetarian, translated into English in 2016, tells the story of a despondent woman who gives up meat and dreams of becoming a tree.
Greek Lessons by Kang tells a heartwarming story of a teacher and student who face life-threatening challenges, with translation by Smith and E Yaewon.
Human Acts explores the 1980 Gwangju Uprising in South Korea, focusing on Dong-ho, a middle school child killed by the army. It explores trauma, sorrow, and long-term implications of state violence on individuals and society.
Deborah Smith's translation of Han Kang's The White Book explores her grief over her mother's loss, highlighting her work as a white poet.
We Do Not Part is a novel about a writer's exploration of Korea's historical traumas, focusing on the impact of the 1948/49 Jeju Massacre on her friend's family.