BEASTS OF A LITTLE LAND

As the Korean independence movement gathers pace, two children meet on the streets of Seoul. Fate will bind them through decades of love and war, they just don't know it yet. It is 1917, and Korea is under Japanese occupation. With the threat of famine looming, 10 year old Jade is sold by her desperate family to Miss Silver's courtesan school in the bustling city of Pyongyang. As the Japanese army tears through the country, she is forced to flee to the southern city of Seoul. Soon her path crosses with that of an orphan named JungHo, a chance encounter that will lead to a life-changing friendship. But when JungHo is pulled into the revolutionary fight for independence, Jade must decide between following her own ambitions and risking everything for the one she loves. From the perfumed chambers of the courtesan school to the glamorous cafés of a modernising Seoul, and sweeping through five decades of Korean history, Juhea Kim has created unforgettable characters and unveils a world where friends become enemies and enemies become saviours, where heroes are persecuted and beasts take many shapes. 400 pages, fairly large print.