Author: Jin-kyu KIM
Publisher: Munhakdongne
270 pages | 223*152mm
| Important! Please read before you order! |
| >>>This book is written in Korean. |
About This Book
- Winner of the 13th Munhakdongne Novel Award.
- Included in Art Council Koreas 2007 Outstanding Book List.
The story of fateful, unrequited love across generations that takes
place about 300 year ago in Korea when arranged marriage was the norm
and interclass marriage was banned by law.
Myo Yeon, the daughter of an infamous philanderer Ryu Ho, marries into
an impeccable family of Minister through the strong matriarchal
influence of her mother. In her new home where everyone is intense, Myo
Yeon decides she will be intensely reticent. One day, her half-sister
who had married the widower Pharmacist Ch’oe shows up at her door,
extremely pregnant, and gives birth to a child they later name Nan. Nan
leaves her own impoverished home at five and is raised at Myo Yeon’s
house.
Myo Yeon notices the budding yet forbidden love between Hee Woo, her own
son, and Nan. Nan and Hee Woo secretly perform marriage rites for fun,
and make flower tea with Myo Yeon's favorite chrysanthemum as a way of
strengthening their love. Although they do not share blood, the two are
clearly siblings. Unable to express her true feelings, Myo Yeon hastily
marries Hee Woo off to another family. Keeping his love for Nan inside,
Hee Woo can no longer resist the marriage proposals from other families
and marries another woman while Nan cuts off the dangerous relationship
and leave Myo Yeon's house.
Yeo Moon happens to see the cripple Hyang cry while passing in front of
Choi's Pharmacy and falls in love instantly. Yeo Moon, however, cannot
do anything besides watch Hyang as she gradually wears off taking care
of her sick father. After marrying some other woman as a result of his
mother’s insistence, he stalks around Hyang’s house. Oblivious to the
fact the Hyang is pregnant, Yeo Moon kills Pharmacist Choi in order to
free her, but Hyang jumps into the water and kills herself, unable to
stand the loneliness.
The novel is composed of monologues of 9 people from 4 families of 3
generations. The story is put together like a puzzle from 9 narrators’
different perspectives. Misunderstandings, secrets, and doubts between
the family members and the lovers influence their lives and relations
over generations. All these happen with the backdrop of beautiful Korean
scenes 300 years ago --Mother's room in the traditional housing
(detailed depiction of tea-making and fabric embroidery work), gardens,
an herbal medicine pharmacy, and a temple in the mountain.
"Moon Eclipse depicts love that crumbles before the wall of
misunderstanding. Nine narrators tell the story of their love in their
own voices." -- Dong-A Ilbo
About the Author
Born 1969, the year of the Fighter Cock. Spent her childhood at the
Chrysanthemum house at Osan, Gyeonggido, and fell in love with King
Jeongjo when she was attending high school with a view of Suwon Hwaseong.
She majored the Iranian Language at Korea Foreign Language University,
got married the fall after graduation, and is living with her husband
and daughter. She debuted as a writer with her first novel Moon Eclipse
winning the 13th Munhakdongne Novel Award, 2007.
Availability: Usually ships in 5~10 business days.
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