Winner of the Italian Malaparte Literary Award, this is Han Kang's sixth novel. Through a penetrating narrative that delves deeply into the structure of wounds, Han Kang revisits May 1980 with a perspective only she can provide. Her poignant and heartfelt prose speaks as if voicing the words of innocent souls, posing profound questions to those who have forgotten and moved on from the Gwangju Uprising, while offering solace to those still struggling with the trauma of that time.
The novel vividly portrays the inner turmoil of Dong-ho, a middle school student who fought against martial law forces during the Gwangju Democratization Movement, along with other characters around him and the lives of those left behind. Through unflinching depictions of the harrowing scenes of that period, it compellingly reminds us of the historical memory we must hold onto today.
Fifteen-year-old Dong-ho, a third-year middle school student during the events of May 1980, becomes involved in managing corpses at the Provincial Office after witnessing the death of his friend Jeong-dae. As he helps gather the bodies brought daily to the mourning hall, Dong-ho lights candles to comfort the silent souls of the deceased, comparing them to a "small bird that has flown away." Amid the putrid smell of death, which feels like another form of protest, he is tormented by memories of Jeong-dae’s horrific death.
Jeong-dae, who had joined Dong-ho in a protest march, was shot and killed by martial law forces. His sister, Jeong-mi, who left school early to work in a factory and support her younger brother, also disappears during that tragic spring. The siblings meet their end in a devastating tragedy. Through the stories of those who worked alongside Dong-ho in the Provincial Office, the novel reveals the heartbreaking facets of Korea’s modern history, shining a light on its darkest chapters.
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