Farewell Valley : a novel / Lim Chul Woo ; translated by Jennifer M. Lee & Jonathan R. Bagley.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Im, Ch'ŏr-u, 1954- author.

Contributor:

Lee, Jennifer M., translator.

Bagley, Jonathan R., translator.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Korean literature.

Korean fiction.

Genre:

Novels.

Physical Description:

v, 216 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Portland, Maine : MerwinAsia, [2016]

Summary:

Divided into four seasons each represented by a different character, this work takes place in a remote village in Kangwŏn Province, where Farewell Valley Station is located. Szhin T'aemuk loses his family during the Korean War and suffers from the guilt of having killed an innocent person while working as stationmaster. Chŏng Tongsu, a young station attendant who grew up not knowing his father, later uncovers the truth about his death. Chŏn Sullye is taken to Manchuria to work as a comfort woman, a prostitute for Japanese soldiers during World War II. Her story problematizes and reflects the ongoing comfort women issue in Korea. As a child Yang Sunji gave away there whereabouts of a soldier who deserted his unit and the soldier's death causes her to live with guilt. The cyclical construction of the novel parallels the four seasons. Although all these characters are emotional and physically affected, this novel presents a new beginning. Lim Chul Woo uses butterflies to represent hope. At moments of despair, butterflies appear to represent a sense of optimism and rebirth.

Contents:

Prologue

Autumn: Farewell Valley poet

Summer: Farewell Valley

Winter: return home

Spring: her finger

Epilogue

About the author and translator.

ISBN:

1937385973

9781937385972

9781937385989

1937385981

OCLC:

967855123

Publisher Number:

99970219156