books in translation

The Nine Cloud Dream: Korea’s Greatest Classic Novel, Explained

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Illustration inspired by The Nine Cloud Dream, a classic Korean Buddhist novel by Kim Man-jung

Here is a question worth 350 years of thought: if you could have everything you ever dreamed of — top honors, wealth, military glory, and the love of eight beautiful women — would it actually make you happy? The Nine Cloud Dream, often called the single greatest classic novel in Korean literature, follows one man … Read more

The Story of Hong Gildong: Korea’s Robin Hood, Explained for New Readers

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Illustration of The Story of Hong Gildong, a classic Korean novel about a Joseon-era outlaw hero

Imagine a hero so famous that his name became your country’s version of “John Doe” — the placeholder scribbled onto every sample form and blank application. That hero is Hong Gildong. He is often called Korea’s Robin Hood: a magical outlaw who robs corrupt officials, outwits royal assassins, and eventually founds his own kingdom across … Read more