The memoirs of Lady Hyegyŏng: the autobiographical writings of a crown princess of eighteenth-century Korea

Lady Hyegyong's memoirs, which recount the chilling murder of her husband by his father, form one of the best known and most popular classics of Korean literature. From 1795 until 1805 Lady Hyegyong composed this masterpiece, depicting a court life Shakepearean in its pathos, drama, and grandeur. Presented in its social, cultural, and historical contexts, this first complete English translation opens a door into a world teeming with conflicting passions, political intrigue, and the daily preoccupations of a deeply intelligent and articulate woman.JaHyun Kim Haboush's accurate, fluid translation captures the intimate and expressive voice of this consummate storyteller. Reissued nearly twenty years after its initial publication with a new foreword by Dorothy Ko,__The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyong__ is a unique exploration of Korean selfhood and an extraordinary example of autobiography in the premodern era. Lady Hyegyong's memoirs, which recount the chilling murder of her husband by his father, form one of the best known and most popular classics of Korean literature. From 1795 until 1805 Lady Hyegyong composed this masterpiece, depicting a court life Shakespearean in its pathos, drama, and grandeur. Presented in its social, cultural, and historical contexts, this first complete English translation opens a door into a world teeming with conflicting passions, political intrigue, and the daily preoccupations of a deeply intelligent and articulate woman.

JaHyun Kim Haboush's accurate, fluid translation captures the intimate and expressive voice of this consummate storyteller. Reissued nearly twenty years after its initial publication with a new foreword by Dorothy Ko, The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyong is a unique exploration of Korean selfhood and an extraordinary example of autobiography in the premodern era. Lady Hyegyong's memoirs, which recount the chilling murder of her husband by his father, is one of the best known and most popular classics of Korean literature. From 1795 until 1805 Lady Hyegyong composed this masterpiece, which depicts a court life whose drama and pathos is of Shakespearean proportions. Presented in its social, cultural, and historical contexts, this complete English translation opens a door into a world teeming with conflicting passions, political intrigue, and the daily preoccupations of a deeply intelligent and articulate woman.
JaHyun Kim Haboush's accurate, fluid translation captures the intimate and expressive voice of this consummate storyteller. The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyong is a unique exploration of Korean selfhood and of how the genre of autobiography fared in premodern times. Lady Hyegyong's memoirs, which recount the chilling murder of her husband by his father, is one of the best known and most popular classics of Korean literature. From 1795 until 1805 Lady Hyegyong composed this masterpiece, which depicts a court life whose drama and pathos is of Shakespearean proportions. Presented in its social, cultural, and historical contexts, this first complete English translation opens a door into a world teeming with conflicting passions, political intrigue, and the daily preoccupations of a deeply intelligent and articulate woman. JaHyun Kim Haboush's accurate, fluid translation captures the intimate and expressive voice of this consummate storyteller. "The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyong" is a unique exploration of Korean selfhood and of how the genre of autobiography fared in premodern times FOREWORD ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INTRODUCTION The Author and Autobiographical Discourse Narrating Lives and the Sense of Self The Genres The Individual Memoirs: Themes and Issues Texts TRANSLATOR'S NOTE PRINCIPAL PERSONS THE MEMOIRS OF LADY HYEGYONG The Memoir of 1795 The Memoir of 1801 The Memoir of 1802 The Memoir of 1803 APPENDIX 1: GENEALOGICAL TABLE OF THE YI ROYAL HOUSE APPENDIX 2: GENEALOGICAL TABLE OF THE HONG FAMILY APPENDIX 3: GENEALOGICAL TABLE OF THE KYONGJU KIM FAMILY NOTES GLOSSARY INDEX Lady Hyegyong married Crown Prince Sado when they were both nine years old. The prince descended into violence and insanity in adulthood, and was killed by his father. Lady Hyegyong chose to live, and her son was later crowned king. She wrote the collected four memoirs in an attempt to weather the storms of political intrigue surrounding her. Contains introductory material, a glossary, and genealogical tables. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyong consists of four autobiographical narratives written by Lady Hyegyong, an eighteenth-century Korean noblewoman.