Baek Seok

Winner of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea's Poetry Grant In a country divided by war, politics & ideological schism, one grand master's poems revive the beauty of Korea's fading traditions & culture. Treasured in both Koreas, Baek Seok's Poems of the North opens an intriguing gateway into the spirit of the North Koreans of the 1930's-50's. In a land struggling for freedom and short of food, he treats his readers to the dishes they craved, exhibiting a Korea not in mired in the unpleasant realities of oppressive Japanese occupation, but in his imagination of its greatness. Influenced by the visually intense landscape objects & narratives of the countryside, this poet observed for us the institutions & character of fading local customs, infusing them with the foods & flavors native to Korea, a deep & spiritual connection to the natural world, & shamanic superstition while tapping into the memories & 'han' of the people. With a tone that is variously meditative, joyous, nostalgic, critical, romantic, reverent, ironic, tragic & even bitter, Baek Seok's blend of litany, landscape & legend is full of nature's color, palatal flavors & a tactile connection to those who people his poems. Dubbed the Great Untranslatable Poet for his use of intense North Korean dialect, Baek Seok gave voice to the distinctive culture of his people. This celebrated poet's poems paint a timeless picture of Korea's rich landscapes, traditions, and shamanic superstitions of the countryside. Baek Seok's poetry, painstakingly translated by Peter Liptak, provides a touching insight into the palatal & pastoral observations of this proud culture. Baek Seok: Poems of the North allows us to experience the human relationships & intense descriptions of a world now largely lost. This thoughtful translation of rich, vivid poetry embodies the proud culture & customs of the North, making Poems of the North a valuable resource for anyone interested in Korean language & culture. Buy Baek Seok: Poems of the North to experience the authentic traditions of Korea today!