Behind Five Willows
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- ¥1,400
発行者による作品情報
AN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
From the New York Times-bestselling author of A Crane Among Wolves comes a warm and romantic homage to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice set in historical Korea, about a reader and a writer who secretly fight against government book banning and find themselves irresistibly drawn together.
As the dutiful second-eldest daughter of a poor family, society would have Haewon believe that her only hope of a decent life is to marry well. But during a time of rampant government censorship and book banning, she instead works as an illegal book transcriber to make a little extra money. It’s dangerous work, but she loves it—especially when she gets to transcribe the work of her favorite author, known as Black Lotus.
When her older sister becomes smitten with a wealthy young gentleman, Haewon is roped into chaperoning them during their courtship. Which wouldn’t be so terrible... if it weren’t for the young man’s uptight and annoying best friend who also accompanies them.
As the only son of a noble, Seojun has a lot expected of him. Wealth. Status. Respectability. Certainly not frivolous and often illicit activities such as reading fiction. But Seojun loves to do something even more scandalous: writing. He’s kept his work secret from his father and friends, but with each passing day, the pressure of being his father’s son and the dispiriting actions of the government make Seojun question the purpose of it all. The only thing keeping him going are the encouraging letters he receives from his transcriber, known only as Magpie.
When his best friend falls hard for a girl of lower social status, Seojun finds himself forced to act as chaperone to the infatuated couple—along with the girl's younger sister, who is as irritating as she is judgmental. But as Haewon and Seojun spend more time together, they begin to suspect they may have judged each other too quickly...
Also by June Hur
The Silence of Bones
The Forest of Stolen Girls
The Red Palace
A Crane Among Wolves
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Two teens in 18th-century Korea find themselves drawn together via secret correspondence and their commitment to a common cause in this simmering historical romance by Hur (A Crane Among Wolves). Eighteen-year-old Shin Haewon, the middle daughter of a financially struggling family, covertly works illegally as a book transcriber, an occupation that becomes increasingly dangerous as book-banning government mandates multiply. But Haewon enjoys the thrill of her job's taboo nature, and especially loves transcribing books from anonymous popular fiction novelist Black Lotus, with whom Haewon has also been secretly exchanging letters. At home, Haewon chaperones her older sister, Jade, during Jade's courtship with a wealthy gentleman who's similarly accompanied by his uptight friend, Seojun. As the only son of a wealthy minister, Seojun feels pressured to uphold his family's reputation—which he knows would fall into jeopardy if his moonlighting as Black Lotus was discovered. Stress brought about by filial duty and government censorship is buoyed by spirited correspondences with his transcriber, known only as Magpie. Warmly rendered characters navigate a unique and evocative setting, which echoes with sharp societal commentary as well as witty repartee that's reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice. A glossary and author's note conclude. Ages 13–up.
