Nobel Prize in Literature laureate Han Kang will see her latest nonfiction work, "Light and Thread," published in English translation this March, marking her first book release since receiving the prestigious award last year. Publishing giant Penguin Random House announced on Friday that the English edition is scheduled to arrive in bookstores on March 24.
The translation project brings together the expertise of three talented translators: Maya West, E. Yaewon, and Paige Aniyah Morris, who worked collaboratively to bring Han Kang's powerful prose to English-speaking audiences. This marks a significant literary event as readers worldwide eagerly await new work from the acclaimed South Korean author.
The original Korean version of "Light and Thread" was released in April and features a comprehensive collection of twelve diverse writings. The book includes five carefully crafted poems alongside several previously unpublished prose pieces, offering readers a rich variety of Han Kang's literary voice and artistic vision.
Three particularly meaningful pieces in the collection directly stem from Han Kang's Nobel Prize experience in December. These include the complete text of her laureate lecture titled "Light and Thread," which she delivered during the formal Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm. The collection also features her heartfelt acceptance speech "Even in the Darkest Night," presented at the distinguished banquet that followed the ceremony, as well as a thoughtful message called "A Small Teacup," which she wrote when donating a personal teacup to the Nobel Prize Museum.
Han Kang's achievement represents a historic milestone in literature, as she became the 121st recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature since the award's establishment. More significantly, she joins an exclusive group as only the 18th woman to receive this honor in the prize's 122-year history dating back to 1901. Her recognition also marks an important moment for Asian literature, making her the first Asian author to win the Nobel Prize in Literature since Chinese writer Mo Yan received the award in 2012.
