With an epic sweep and exquisitely described locations, Kim's sumptuous saga of two friends caught up in Korea's fight for independence brings a vanished world to vibrant, effervescent life.
An expansive epic spanning the turbulent decades of Korea's fight for independence, perfect for fans of Min Jin Lee's Pachinko.
Beasts take many shapes...
It is 1917, and Korea is yet to be divided into north and south. With the threat of famine looming, a young girl named Jade is sold by her family to Miss Silver's courtesan school in cosmopolitan Pyongyang, an act of desperation that will cement her place in the lowest social status. But the city's days as a haven are numbered.
Jade flees to Seoul where she forms a deep friendship with an orphan boy called JungHo, who scrapes together a living begging on the streets. As Jade becomes a sought-after performer with unexpected romantic prospects, JungHo is swept up in the revolutionary fight for independence. Soon Jade must decide between following her own ambitions, or risking everything for the one she loves.
From the perfumed chambers of the courtesan school to the glamorous cafes of a modernising Seoul, the unforgettable characters of Beasts of a Little Land unveil a world where friends become enemies and enemies become saviours, where heroes are persecuted and beasts take many shapes.
Publisher: Oneworld Publications
ISBN: 9780861543229
Number of pages: 416
Dimensions: 234 x 153 x 35 mm
'Beasts of a Little Land is a stunning achievement. Juhea Kim wrestles with the chaos of a half-century of love, idealism, war and violence, and does so with courage and wisdom.' TLS
'Full of Korean myth and historical detail, it’s an immersive read for a long weekend.' Stylist
'This is historical fiction at its very best! I am astonished by Juhea's talent.' Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, internationally bestselling author of The Mountains Sing
'Stunning... Profound... This novel will devastate you and then still you with its wise meditations on love and loss. I couldn’t put it down.' Alexis Schaitkin, author of Saint X
'Beasts of a Little Land is a heartbreaking story rendered mythic by Kim’s gorgeous prose.' Jing-Jing Lee, author of How We Disappeared
'A magnificent, mesmerizing story of love and war… Cinematic in its scope, this is the type of novel that the reader finishes both with pleasure (for its satisfying denouement and pleasing circularity) and with sadness (at having to leave the story behind).' New Internationalist
'Some people say that all stories are about either love or war. Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century Korea, Kim’s epic debut novel is about both.' Harper's Bazaar US, 'Best Books of 2021'
'Gorgeous prose and unforgettable characters combine to make a literary masterpiece.' Kirkus, (starred review)
'Kim's dreamy, intense debut is both a sure-footed historical account of the Korean struggle for independence from Japan and the emotionally fraught story of several people whose lives are inextricably tied together... The prose is ravishing.' Publishers Weekly
'An immersive historical novel set in occupied Korea with a sweeping cast of characters whose lives intersect over half a century.' Lit Hub, 'Most Anticipated Books of 2021'
'This epic historical novel offers an entrancing glimpse into a colourful world of love and conflict.' Daily Mail, 'Must Reads'
Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim is an adventurous and engaging debut novel of history and heartbreak. In 1917, Korea hasn’t yet been divided and a young girl called Jade is sold by her desperate family to Miss... More
Life is only bearable because time makes you forget everything. But life is worthwhile because love makes you remember everything.
Honestly, this book is something special. Set in Korea and across multiple time...
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Beasts of a Little Land is a very powerful book. It describes a family who, distraught by the fear of famine in their village, send their nine year old daughter, Jade, to become a apprentice courtesan ay Madame... More
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