The Square A Novel

The Square, a novel by In-hun Ch’oe, is published by Dalkey Archive Press in 2014 and consists of 158 pages. This work is recognized as a classic of Korean modernism, exploring the profound impact of Korea’s division. Set just before the Korean War, the narrative follows the protagonist’s journey to the North in search of freedom from what he perceives as the oppressive regime in the South, only to confront a different reality in the so-called worker’s paradise.

Readers will encounter a dark and intricate examination of ideologies and their destructive influence on the individual. The novel suggests that both communism and capitalism can act as harmful forces, challenging the notion of political utopias. This edition, presented in English, invites exploration of themes related to fiction and literary collections, particularly within the context of Asian literature.