Black Flower
“Black Flower” by Young-ha Kim, published by Mariner Books in 2013, is a historical fiction narrative that explores the plight of over a thousand Koreans who emigrate to Mexico in 1904, seeking a new life amidst the backdrop of war and political upheaval. This reprint edition spans 305 pages and is presented in English. The story follows a diverse group of emigrants, including thieves, royals, and orphans, who find themselves sold into indentured servitude after a long sea voyage, highlighting themes of collective loss and the quest for self-determination.
Readers will encounter the journey of Ijeong, an orphan who falls in love with a nobleman’s daughter, as he vows to reunite with her after being separated. The narrative unfolds against the harsh realities of labor in the henequen fields and the chaos of the Mexican revolution. “Black Flower” delves into the complexities of love and freedom, set against a lesser-known historical backdrop. This edition offers a rich exploration of the intersection between personal and political struggles, making it a significant addition to the genres of historical and literary fiction.
Official synopsis Publisher
Can a nation disappear forever? . . . [In] a tale of collective loss, political revolution and the individual quest for self-determination . . . Kim brings us the souls caught up on the ground of this larger drama.” “Minneapolis Star Tribune”
In 1904, facing war and the loss of their nation, more than a thousand Koreans leave their homes for the promise of land in unknown Mexico. After a long sea voyage, these emigrants thieves and royals, priests and soldiers, orphans and entire families discover that they have been sold into indentured servitude.
Aboard the ship, the orphan Ijeong fell in love with a nobleman s daughter; separated when the hacendados claim their laborers, he vows to find her. Then, after years of working in the punishing heat of the henequen fields, the Koreans are caught in the midst of a Mexican revolution. A tale of star-crossed love, political turmoil, and the dangers of seeking freedom in a new world, “Black Flower” is an epic story based on a little-known moment in history.
Kim is at the leading edge of a new breed of South Korean writers. “Philadelphia City Paper”
Spare and beautiful. “Publishers Weekly,” starred review
“Readers who remember the historical fiction of Thomas B. Costain, Zoe Oldenbourg and Anya Seton will appreciate [Kim s] extensive research and empathic imagination.” “Kirkus Reviews”
YOUNG-HA KIM s Black Flower won Korea s Dong-in Award. Kim is one of the most talented and prolific Korean writers of his generation, with five novels and three collections of short stories, including his acclaimed debut, I Have the Right to Destroy Myself.
Author photograph (c) E. S. Chang
Mariner
www.marinerbooks.com
$14.95
ISBN 978-0-544-10639-0
Fiction
1013/1540831
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