Description ★ 2022 Dayton Literary Peace Prize Finalist ★ Praised by over 40 major English-language media outlets including The Times and The New York Times ★ Amazon's 'Book of the Month' for 2021 ★ Named a 'Best Book of 2021' by Real Simple, Harper's Bazaar, Ms. Magazine, and Portland Monthly ★ Recommended by major Korean newspapers including Kyunghyang, Dong-a, Maeil, Munhwa, Seoul, and Hankyoreh ★ Published in translation in 13 countries worldwide ★ Upcoming global OTT adaptation "This is a story that is already so familiar to us, yet one that deserves to be known even more widely." A story that has stirred the hearts of people around the world— The struggle and love of people who stood tall despite the sorrow of a stolen homeland. In 2021, Korean-American author Juhea Kim's novel Beasts of a Little Land astonished the world by unfolding the grand history of the small nation of Korea on the vast stage of America. The novel immediately became an Amazon 'Book of the Month' and was named a 'Best Book of 2021' by Real Simple, Harper's Bazaar, Ms. Magazine, and Portland Monthly. It was also recommended by The Times and more than 40 other major American media outlets. Since then, its rights have been sold to more than ten countries, and in September 2022, it was named a finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, awarded to literary works that contribute to world peace. Beasts of a Little Land tells the story of people swept up in Korea's decades-long struggle for independence and the turbulent times that followed. Through a rich cast of characters, the novel awakens values of love, empathy, and compassion that unite all of humanity. Author Juhea Kim has said, "I wrote this not only as a story about Koreans who lived a hundred years ago in a small, faraway land, but as a story about humanity as a whole." Having grown up hearing stories of her grandfather, who helped Kim Gu in the independence movement, it was perhaps inevitable that this Korean-American author's debut novel would be set against the backdrop of Japanese-occupied Korea. With its sweeping narrative and expansive scope reminiscent of Tolstoy's work, this novel is a masterpiece that will resonate widely with readers who love epic sagas and poignant love stories alike, across genders and generations. At a time when K-content, beginning with Parasite, is beloved around the world, it holds special significance that this 'story of ours'—originally written in English—is now being published in its homeland in its native language. The Korean edition includes a special message from the author to Korean readers, and great care was taken in translation to preserve the beauty of the Korean language. Synopsis In the winter of 1917, deep in the mountains of Pyongan Province, a hunter battling hunger and extreme cold while tracking game saves a Japanese officer from a tiger attack. This chance encounter binds their fates together, unfolding into a story spanning half a century. Hunters, soldiers, courtesans, gangsters, students, businessmen, revolutionaries... lives of dramatic upheaval are tightly woven together by threads of fate, meeting, parting, and reuniting, embroidering the history of the Korean peninsula with beauty. Characters Okhee "I want to be the one who helps you escape the mud." Born the daughter of a tenant farmer, she was sold to a courtesan house at the age of ten. Contrary to the house owner's first impression that her features were somewhat unsuited to becoming a courtesan, she proves observant, bright, intelligent, and diligent. Once she becomes a full-fledged courtesan, suitors never stop coming. But her heart belongs to someone else. Jungho "So what do I have to do to become one of these communists?" Having lost his father, he arrives in Gyeongseong penniless. While leading a gang of pickpockets, he happens to see a procession of courtesans and falls for Okhee. He steps into an unfamiliar world in hopes of becoming a man worthy of her recognition. Hancheol "I don't deserve your love." A poor student who attends night school while pulling a rickshaw during the day. As the descendant of a fallen noble family, he carries his family's hopes of restoring their name. He gradually falls for Okhee, whom he meets as a passenger in his rickshaw. Yamada "Why do you push them until they bleed...