Korea's Twentieth-Century Odyssey

Contributor: Michael E. Robinson Michael E. Robinson is professor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, Indiana University.

The wait for a succinct yet comprehensive history of modern Korea is over. This volume, deftly written by Michael E. Robinson, comes as a welcome alternative to histories of Korea too long or too complex for typical undergraduates. . . . Striking photographs throughout confirm this impressive volume’s status as the new standard in the field. . . . Essential. --- Michael Robinson has written an excellent survey of twentieth-century Korean history that will be useful for both students and interested readers. . . . The book is concise enough not to overwhelm the reader yet informative enough to provide a firm foundation for understanding modern Korea. . . . It is unmatched in its treatment of the crucially important colonial era. For this reason Robinson has produced what is probably the most useful survey text on modern Korea. --- An excellent book which concisely and succinctly presents the reader an opportunity to better understand the 20th century historical and cultural context for events occurring on the Korean peninsula today. --- An excellent introduction to modern Korea for college-level courses or for the general reader. The author brings together representative research studies, including his own, and offers a succinct, dynamic and synthesized history of modern Korea. . . . [H]e pays close attention to how the everyday life of ordinary people intersects with the rapid economic and cultural transformations, rendering a highly engaging and captivating narrative with precision, wit and balanced viewpoints. --- Robinson’s effort overshadows other publications in Korean studies because of its clear, concise, succinct, and easily accessible writing style.