One Hundred Shadows

"There is an unforgettable, curious beauty to be found here." —Han Kang, Winner of the Man Booker International Prize for The Vegetarian

Han Kang's Human Acts meets Yōko Ogawa's The Memory Police in this understated South Korean novella in translation: a restrained yet emotional magical realist examination of futility in a capitalist society written in response to the 2009 Yongsan Disaster.

In a Seoul slum marked for demolition, residents' shadows have begun to rise. No one knows how or why–but, they warn each other, do not follow your shadow if it wanders away.

As the landscape of their lives is torn apart, building by building, electronics-repair-shop employees Eungyo and Mujae can only watch as their community begins to fade. Their growing connection with one another provides solace, but against an uncaring ruling class and the inevitability of the rising shadows, their relationship may not be enough. 

Winner of the Hankook Ilbo Literary Award & the Korean Bookseller's Award, One Hundred Shadows is a tender working-class perspective with subtle & affecting social commentary. This edition features an introduction by Man Booker Prize-winning author of The Vegetarian, Han Kang, a historical note about the Yongsan tragedy that inspired One Hundred Shadows, & an exclusive interview with the author.

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Hwang Jungeun, a reader 1st & translator of 2nd, loves to fall in love with books & translate the books she loves. Her works include  No One Writes Back  (Dalkey Archive Press), 100 Shadows  (2010), &  Seven Samurai Swept Away in a River  (Deep Vellum Publishing). She is the winner of the 2017 LTI Korea Translation Award & the 2011 Korea Times Modern Korean Literature Translation Award. She lives on a small island in SK & enjoys taking long walks along the beach.

Emily Yaewon 이예원 translates from & into Korean