Memoirs Of A Korean Queen (Korean Culture) - Softcover

Hong, Lady

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1138863505 ISBN 13: 9781138863507

Publisher: Routledge, 2015

Synopsis

First published in 1985. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

About this title

Language Notes:

Text: English, Korean (translation)

Review:

In her sixtieth year, Lady Hong began this memoir for her grandson, King Sunjo, in order to explain the "Imo Incident" and to clear her family name of any wrong doing associated with the tragedy. At age ten, Lady Hong became the wife of Crown Prince Sado, next in line to be the king of Korea. Unfortunately, her husband suffered from paranoia and delusions that intensified over time. In response to his son's actions, the King killed him in a bizarre and horrifying manner: this murder became known as the "Imo Incident." Its affect on Lady Hong was all encompassing: "In the face of this disaster it seemed as if heaven and earth touched each other and the sun and moon turned pitch black, and I had no desire to remain any longer in this world." For years prior to her husband's death, she had longed to talk with the King, to ask for help; because of royal protocol, all she was allowed to do was watch her husband's violent abuses. Memoirs of a Korean Queen provides a rare example of writing by a Korean woman during this period and an equally rare view of her life and those around her. Two hundred years later Lady Hong shines through as a thoughtful, intelligent woman whose life was circumscribed by the custom, culture, and Confucianism of her time - the same custom, culture, and religion that provided her with the strength to endure. -- For great reviews of books for girls, check out Let's Hear It for the Girls: 375 Great Books for Readers 2-14. -- From 500 Great Books by Women; review by Holly Smith

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1138863505
• ISBN 13: 9781138863507
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256