The Calligrapher's Daughter: A Novel [Deckle Edge] [Hardcover]

Eugenia Kim (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 4, 2009

A sweeping debut novel, inspired by the life of the author’s mother, about a young woman who dares to fight for a brighter future in occupied Korea

In early-twentieth-century Korea, Najin Han, the privileged daughter of a calligrapher, longs to choose her own destiny. Smart and headstrong, she is encouraged by her mother—but her stern father is determined to maintain tradition, especially as the Japanese steadily gain control of his beloved country. When he seeks to marry Najin into an aristocratic family, her mother defies generations of obedient wives and instead sends her to serve in the king’s court as a companion to a young princess. But the king is soon assassinated, and the centuries-old dynastic culture comes to its end.

In the shadow of the dying monarchy, Najin begins a journey through increasing oppression that will forever change her world. As she desperately seeks to continue her education, will the unexpected love she finds along the way be enough to sustain her through the violence and subjugation her country continues to face? Spanning thirty years, The Calligrapher’s Daughter is a richly drawn novel in the tradition of Lisa See and Amy Tan about a country torn between ancient customs and modern possibilities, a family ultimately united by love, and a woman who never gives up her search for freedom. 

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. This debut novel, inspired by the life of the author's Korean mother, is a beautiful, deliberate and satisfying story spanning 30 years of Korean history. The tradition-bound aristocratic calligrapher Han refuses to name his daughter because she is born just as the Japanese occupy Korea early in the 20th century. When Han finds a husband for Najin (nicknamed after her mother's birthplace) at 14, her mother objects and instead sends her to the court of the doomed royal Yi family to learn refinement. Najin goes to college and becomes a teacher, proving herself not only as a scholar but as a patriot and humanitarian. She returns home to marry, but her new husband goes without her to study in America when she is denied a visa. As the Japanese systematically obliterate ancient Korean culture and the political climate worsens, so do Najin's fortunes. Her family is reduced to poverty, their home is seized and Najin is imprisoned as a spy while WWII escalates. The author writes at a languorous pace, choosing not to sully her elegant pages with raw brutality, but the key to the story is Korea's monumental suffering at the hands of the Japanese. (Aug.)
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From School Library Journal

Adult/High School—In 1910 Gaesong, Korea, a female child is born to a learned scholar and calligrapher and his wife. The child, unnamed by her father, who is despondent over the recent annexing of Korea by Japan, names herself Najin. She proceeds to forge her own destiny, struggling to be an obedient daughter in the Confucian tradition of her father and the Christian faith embraced by her mother. To escape an arranged marriage, Najin goes to the emperor's palace to be a companion to the princess. With the collapse of the Joseon dynasty, she loses her position. She finds ways to further her studies in education and medicine and helps support her parents and younger, shiftless brother with work as a teacher and physician. When her father arranges another marriage, to a student minister, Najin agrees. Immediately she is left with his family to act as a servant while he studies in the U.S. Accused of spying after she returns to her own now-impoverished family, Najin spends months in prison. The novel, based on the life of the author's mother, comes to a satisfying conclusion with the surrender of Japan and the reunion of the couple. Descriptive imagery communicates Najin's philosophical musings, dreams, and appreciation of nature. Readers are left with greater understanding of the horrors of Japanese occupation and of the cultural, political, and religious upheaval that Korean families faced as they negotiated the modern world. Delicate black-and-white illustrations complement the prose. A compelling narrative about an intellectually curious and brave heroine.—Jackie Gropman, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library System, Fairfax, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.; First Edition edition (August 4, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805089128
• ISBN-13: 978-0805089127
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #514,325 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eugenia Kim is the daughter of Korean immigrant parents who came to America shortly after the Pacific War. An MFA graduate of Bennington College, she has published short stories and essays in journals and anthologies, including Echoes Upon Echoes: New Korean American Writings. THE CALLIGRAPHER'S DAUGHTER is her first novel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming Tale About A Girl, A Mother, A Changing Nation, May 7, 2009

By 

Tara (Utah) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Calligrapher's Daughter: A Novel (Hardcover)

This is truly a heartwarming and lovely tale, one of those novels that touches you in such a way, you hate for it to end. It is story of a Korean girl and her mother, a story of a proud nation battling the aggressiveness of another, a story of a man coming to understand and accept that old ways and lifestyle must change, and a story of love that survives many hardships. All these stories in one magnificent novel. The Korean girl, Najin, is growing up in a very Confucian household. Her mother, however, strives for Najin to get an education and to make something of herself. Throughout the many years, wars, and tribulations, Najin's mother is there for her, supporting her and fighting for her, even standing up to her strict husband to save Najin's future. Najin, does indeed, make something of herself despite her nation's constant battles with Japan and being separated from her husband and even imprisoned. Readers also see things from Najin's father's point of view, as he comes of age in a society that is straying from his traditional beliefs and he comes to slowly accept that his daughter is not so "worthless" after all. Tho taking a minor role in the novel, a love story also thrives. Being married for only a day and separated for eleven years, reader's will find out if love is enough for Najin and her husband. The ending will leave reader's dabbing their eyes. Truly, a gem and absolute must read. Highly recommended.

43 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely, moving, beautiful, May 14, 2009

By 

JB (DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Calligrapher's Daughter: A Novel (Hardcover)

I just finished the final paragraph of this beautiful, stunning book. I loved it in its entirety and simply did not want it to come to an end. I am struck by how each chapter stands on its own ... and yet the author continues to move the narrative and the character exploration to the next level, making the tale even more richly satisfying. The final chapter is gorgeous. I was overcome by feeling at several points in the book and then, during the final chapter, I simply had to put the book down and let the tears flow (as they are right now, again). What an achievement. It is an epic tale, told in an intimate, personal, spiritually generous, and deeply moving manner. I am also moved by how the author told the story and message of faith, its challenges and progression, its meaning in our lives (culminating in the image of the open head and heart of the final paragraphs)... her direct yet subtle (non-preachy or judgmental) way of addressing a living faith was masterful. Faith is mysterious and inexplicable. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the faith community doesn't pick this book up and champion it.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Work of Historical Fiction!, June 18, 2009

By 

skrishna (http://www.skrishnasbooks.com) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Calligrapher's Daughter: A Novel (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

The Calligrapher's Daughter is an exceptionally written historical fiction novel. I can't imagine how much time and effort Eugenia Kim must have put into finding out as much as she could about the customs during the time period she writes about. Additionally, I have to say that I was a bit shocked at how little I knew about Korean history. I appreciated the insight that this book provided, as well as the historical note at the end of the novel which gave a brief summary of Korean history.

Eugenia Kim writes with a confidence usually reserved for seasoned writers. As a result, I was incredibly surprised to learn that The Calligrapher's Daughter was her first novel. The novel starts out a bit slow and has a somewhat languorous pace. In this case, it works well - just don't expect this to be a super quick read. One technique I did like was Kim's use of letters in order to skip over long periods of time. This way, the reader is able to learn what is occurring, but isn't bogged down in unnecessary storytelling.

Najin is a great character that I really enjoyed getting to know. I loved how strong she was, yet how flexible she had to be in order to deal with whatever was thrown at her. I thought the juxtaposition of tradition vs. modernism, and how determined Najin's mother was to ensure that she was educated was incredibly interesting. Najin is the embodiment of the change within Korea at that time; it was very well done. I also sympathized with her plight, especially when she was at the house of her in-laws. Kim really makes the reader emotionally involved in Najin's life.

The Calligrapher's Daughter is a wonderful historical fiction read that I highly recommend. If I'm not mistaken, there isn't much in this genre about Korea, so it's an opportunity to learn a lot about a place we really should know more about. I definitely think any fans of historical fiction or Asian literature would enjoy this novel.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5