Original title 태백산맥 Genre Roman-Fleuve | ||
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Similar Jo Jung-rae books, Other books | ||
The Tae Baek Mountains is a Korean roman-fleuve written by Jo Jung-rae. 15700 sheets of manuscript papers were used. It was published serially through Hyundai Munhak (which means "Modern Literature") from September 1983. HanGil and HaeNaem published it.
Contents
Plot
After Japanese colonial rule over Korea ended, the tension between left-wing and right-wing increased in the Korean peninsula. In the town of Beolgyo-eup, Boseong County, South Jeolla Province, Yeom Sang-jin and the communist partisans capture the town temporarily when the Yeosu–Suncheon rebellion of 1948 occurred. But soon they are routed and sneak into Jirisan. When they were in power, they execute many landlords and the former pro-Japanese. This led to the collocation of the troops from government near Beolgyo. South Korean government troops, officers and right wing henchmen are trying to mop up the communist partisans. The partisans and left-wing intellectuals act secretly against South Korean government. When the Korean War breaks out, the communist partisans seize the town again with the help of the Soviet Red Army and Chinese People's Volunteer Army.
Assessment
This roman-fleuve describe well the fierce ideological conflict between political groups and the tragic stories of victims. The right-wing criticized that the book benefits the enemy and persecuted the author. But many Korean students and intellectuals loved the work. In the novel, many characters use their own Jeolla dialects, and the scene of Beolgyo was portrayed in detail like a watercolor picture.