| Important new works in modern Korean history [message #6445] |
Mon, 16 December 2002 12:21  |
Gari Keith Ledyard
Messages: 124
Registered: September 1999
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Senior Member |
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I wish to bring to the attention of the list two new works in
modern Korean history that I don't think have been mentioned yet on the
list. In fact it is a sad thing that so little has been mentioned on this
list recently.
The first is by Andre Schmid, associate professor of East Asian
Studies at the University of Toronto. It's called
1895-1919>, published by Columbia University Press (2002, 369 pp.). It is
a very good book on the construction of Korean nationalism by journalist-
intellectuals during the period following the Sino-Japanese War up through
the early years of the Japanese colonial regime in Korea. It is
remarkable how much of their project still inhabits the heart and soul of
Korean nationalism today, especially in South Korea. Schmid's book really
is an excellent introduction to the subject and should be welcomed by all
who want to understand where today's Korean nationalism started from. It
also is a remarkable evocation of the world of the TaeHan Cheguk, from
1895 until its end in 1910. No other book covering that period touches
very much on the materials or the perspective that Andre Schmid deals with
here.
Appearing more recently is a comprehensive history of the origins
of the DPRK state and its society by Charles Armstrong,
Revolution, 1945-1950>, published by Cornell University Press, 265 pp.
(It's listed on the Cornellpress website as a Fall 2002 release, but the
publication data page in the book itself says, "First published 2003...")
This is a superb book on the prehistory as well as the early history of
the DPRK. It accords due respect to such prominent predecessors as Suh
Dae-Sook and Scalapino & Lee, but is really new in its formulations and
approach. Armstrong doesn't spend too much time on the Soviets, nor on
all the ins and outs of the politics at the top; rather it concentrates on
society and culture, and the changes at the bottom. At the same time it
does not neglect issues that relate powerfully to the dilemmas and
problems--and the challenges--of the DPRK today. The core of the book is
based on close research in original sources found in the archive of
documents and materials captured by U.S forces in P'yongyang in late 1950,
now available to scholars in the U.S. National Archives.
Both of these books are essential additions to any reading list
for modern Korean history courses.
Gari Ledyard
King Sejong Professor of Korean Studies Emeritus
Columbia University in the City of New York
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| Re: Important new works in modern Korean history [message #6448 is a reply to message #6445] |
Wed, 18 December 2002 15:01  |
Afostercarter
Messages: 185
Registered: November 2000
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Senior Member |
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Could I add a footnote to this? Another new work in the same area,
which may have had less attention so far - being written by a Russian
in Australia, and brought out by a small British publisher - is:
Andrei LANKOV. From Stalin to Kim Il Sung: the Formation
of North Korea, 1945-1960. London: C Hurst & Co, Nov 2002.
pp xviii, 202. Price £35 pounds, hardback. www.hurstpub.co.uk
Dr Lankov has worked extensively in the Russian archives.
I have yet to see Charles Armstrong's book, but it sounds as if they
may complement one another. They would surely make a fine pair
for a joint review.
Those unfamiliar with Andrei Lankov and his work can find a
selection, in English and Russian, on the very useful North Korea
website maintained by his compatriot and fellow-Antipodean
resident, Leonid Pletnov. The URL is:
http://members.fortunecity.com/leonid7/lankov.htm
(It can be slow to load, in my experience)
Finally, season's greetings to all Listeners!
Aidan FC
AIDAN FOSTER-CARTER
Honorary Senior Research Fellow in Sociology & Modern Korea, Leeds University
17 Birklands Road, Shipley, West Yorkshire, BD18 3BY, UK
tel: +44(0) 1274 588586 mobile: +44(0) 7970 741307
fax: +44(0) 1274 773663 Email: afostercarter@aol.com
__________
In a message dated 12/17/02 01:21:54 GMT Standard Time, gkl1@columbia.edu
writes:
> Subj:[KS] Important new works in modern Korean history
> Date:12/17/02 01:21:54 GMT Standard Time
> From:gkl1@columbia.edu
> Reply-to:Koreanstudies@koreaweb.ws
> To:Koreanstudies@koreaweb.ws
> Sent from the Internet
>
>
>
> I wish to bring to the attention of the list two new works in
> modern Korean history that I don't think have been mentioned yet on the
> list. In fact it is a sad thing that so little has been mentioned on this
> list recently.
> The first is by Andre Schmid, associate professor of East Asian
> Studies at the University of Toronto. It's called
> 1895-1919>, published by Columbia University Press (2002, 369 pp.). It is
> a very good book on the construction of Korean nationalism by journalist-
> intellectuals during the period following the Sino-Japanese War up through
> the early years of the Japanese colonial regime in Korea. It is
> remarkable how much of their project still inhabits the heart and soul of
> Korean nationalism today, especially in South Korea. Schmid's book really
> is an excellent introduction to the subject and should be welcomed by all
> who want to understand where today's Korean nationalism started from. It
> also is a remarkable evocation of the world of the TaeHan Cheguk, from
> 1895 until its end in 1910. No other book covering that period touches
> very much on the materials or the perspective that Andre Schmid deals with
> here.
> Appearing more recently is a comprehensive history of the origins
> of the DPRK state and its society by Charles Armstrong,
> Revolution, 1945-1950>, published by Cornell University Press, 265 pp.
> (It's listed on the Cornellpress website as a Fall 2002 release, but the
> publication data page in the book itself says, "First published 2003...")
> This is a superb book on the prehistory as well as the early history of
> the DPRK. It accords due respect to such prominent predecessors as Suh
> Dae-Sook and Scalapino & Lee, but is really new in its formulations and
> approach. Armstrong doesn't spend too much time on the Soviets, nor on
> all the ins and outs of the politics at the top; rather it concentrates on
> society and culture, and the changes at the bottom. At the same time it
> does not neglect issues that relate powerfully to the dilemmas and
> problems--and the challenges--of the DPRK today. The core of the book is
> based on close research in original sources found in the archive of
> documents and materials captured by U.S forces in P'yongyang in late 1950,
> now available to scholars in the U.S. National Archives.
> Both of these books are essential additions to any reading list
> for modern Korean history courses.
>
> Gari Ledyard
> King Sejong Professor of Korean Studies Emeritus
> Columbia University in the City of New York
>
>
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