The Vegetarian A Novel
The Vegetarian by Han Kang, published by Random House Publishing Group on August 23, 2016, is a reprint edition comprising 208 pages in English. This novel explores the life of Yeong-hye, who, after experiencing disturbing dreams, decides to stop eating meat. This seemingly simple choice disrupts her ordinary life and marriage, leading to a series of increasingly grotesque events that challenge her autonomy and relationships.
Readers will find a narrative that delves into themes of psychological struggle and cultural heritage, as Yeong-hye’s decision triggers a desperate response from those around her. The story unfolds through the perspectives of her husband, brother-in-law, and sister, each grappling with their own attempts to regain control over her life. The Vegetarian presents a darkly allegorical tale that examines power dynamics and the complexities of personal choice, ultimately revealing the profound impact of Yeong-hye’s actions on her psyche and her connections with others.
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FROM HAN KANG, WINNER OF THE 2024 NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE
“[Han Kang’s] intense poetic prose . . . exposes the fragility of human life.”—The Nobel Committee for Literature, in the citation for the Nobel Prize
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
WINNER OF THE INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE
ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES’S 100 BEST BOOKS OF THE 21ST CENTURY
A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST FICTION BOOK OF THE CENTURY
“Ferocious.”—The New York Times Book Review (Ten Best Books of the Year)
“Both terrifying and terrific.”—Lauren Groff
“Provocative [and] shocking.”—The Washington Post
Before the nightmares began, Yeong-hye and her husband lived an ordinary, controlled life. But the dreams—invasive images of blood and brutality—torture her, driving Yeong-hye to purge her mind and renounce eating meat altogether. It’s a small act of independence, but it interrupts her marriage and sets into motion an increasingly grotesque chain of events at home. As her husband, her brother-in-law and sister each fight to reassert their control, Yeong-hye obsessively defends the choice that’s become sacred to her. Soon their attempts turn desperate, subjecting first her mind, and then her body, to ever more intrusive and perverse violations, sending Yeong-hye spiraling into a dangerous, bizarre estrangement, not only from those closest to her, but also from herself.
Celebrated by critics around the world, The Vegetarian is a darkly allegorical, Kafka-esque tale of power, obsession, and one woman’s struggle to break free from the violence both without and within her.
A Best Book of the Year: BuzzFeed, Entertainment Weekly, Wall Street Journal, Time, Elle, The Economist, HuffPost, Slate, Bustle, The St. Louis Dispatch, Electric Literature, Publishers Weekly
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