- Overview
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The first novel to deal with the tragic life of Princess Deokhye.
- Book Intro
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Kwon Bee-young has published a novel about Princess Deokhye, who was born noble yet died a lonely death. Kwon strived to portray the frustration and suffering experienced by those who went through the times of national decline as vividly as possible (including, for example, Princess Deokhye, the royal family members, young people, women, and children). The writer of this novel has also published a collection of stories called Fables of the Winter.
Having been referred to as the youngest daughter of King Gojong, one of the last royal family members in Joseon Dynasty, the flower of Deoksugung Palace Princess Deokhye had been a political scapegoat since her birth. After witnessing her father’s death at a young age, Princess Deokhye was forcefully brought to Japan and spent her teenage years filled with indifference and surveillance. She later underwent a forced marriage with a Japanese man, confinement in a psychiatric hospital for ten years, and even her daughter’s suicide, which was all followed by a mental and physical breakdown.
What made her keep holding on to her life during this humiliating time was her longing for her home country and her relentless determination to reclaim it. Yet, the country that she had loved so much did not try to get her back after gaining independence. Those who seized power with Korean independence tried to ignore the royal family held hostage by Japan out of concerns that they would be restored to power. Princess Deokhye later managed to step foot in her homeland after 37 years had passed.
- About the Author
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Kwon Bee-Young
Kwon Bee-young made her literary debut in 1995 when she received the Shilla Literary Award. She is an active member of the Korea Writers Association and the 21st-Century Novel Association. She published a short story collection called Fables from That Winter in 2016. While she was traveling in Japan, she became acquainted with the sad life of Princess Deokhye, the last princess of the Joseon Dynasty. It was with a high sense of duty and a respect for herself that she undertook writing Deokhye,The Last Princess of Joseon Dynasty. To finish the novel, she conducted rigorous research to get the historical facts right and used them to convey the authentic voice of the ill-fated princess.
