Island Ablaze and Other Stories

Island Ablaze and Other Stories is an anthology of thirteen stories—eleven from South Korea and two from North Korea—about these countries' complicated relationships with their most important ally and enemy: the United States. Set in times ranging from colonial Korea to the new millennium, these stories offer a look into the many ways that the US empire shapes the lives of Koreans.

In "Dawn," schoolgirl sweethearts living under Japanese colonial rule reconnect as young mothers amid celebrations of the attack on Pearl Harbor. "Till We Meet Again" addresses the adoption industry and America's treatment of Korean children following the Korean War. In the title story, a North Korean radio operator must choose between abandoning the soldier she loves or dying with him at the famous Battle of Incheon that turned the tide of the Korean War. From camp towns to sugarcane fields, missionary schools to international flights, Island Ablaze and Other Stories shows everyday Korean life in the shadow of the American empire.

Ruth Barraclough is Korea Foundation Associate Professor in the Department of History at Columbia University.

Jae-Yong Kim is Professor of Modern Korean Literature at Wongwang University.

Jin-kyung Lee is Associate Professor of Korean Literature at the University of California, San Diego.

Sang-Kyung Lee is Professor of Modern Korean Literature at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

Island Ablaze and Other Stories explores the conflicted and often violent relationship between the United States and Korea. This captivating collection of short stories brings to light the profoundly ambivalent attitudes and sentiments toward the US, featuring literary voices from both North and South Korea. The editors and translators' dedication to the art of translation is evident in each piece, providing readers with unparalleled access to these powerful narratives.

Andre Schmid, University of Toronto:

This book teaches us to listen to the dazzling, thoughtful, and even disturbing stories produced by Korean fiction writers for interpretations of US-Korea relations—and for how a country that has fought with and against the United States experienced the ups and downs of more than six decades.

Travis Workman, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities:

Skillfully executed by its editors and translators, this book is a major contribution to Korean studies and to the comparative and transnational study of responses to US occupation.