Eugenia Kim was born in 1961 in New York City to Korean immigrant parents. Growing up in the United States, she was influenced by her Korean heritage and the experiences of her family. Kim has often drawn from her family's history and the broader context of Korean culture to inform her writing.
She earned her Bachelor's degree in English from Barnard College and later pursued a Master's in Public Administration from Columbia University. Her education and experiences have contributed to her understanding of both literature and the social issues that often appear in her works.
Eugenia Kim is best known for her debut novel, "The Calligrapher's Daughter," published in 2009. The novel is set against the backdrop of early 20th-century Korea and explores the life of a young woman named Najin Han. "The Calligrapher's Daughter" delves into themes of cultural identity, societal expectations, and the impact of historical events such as the Japanese occupation of Korea.
Eugenia Kim's writing has been praised for its evocative storytelling, rich character development, and the historical authenticity with which she portrays the settings of her novels.
A sweeping debut novel, inspired by the life of the author's mother, about a young woman who dares to fight for a brighter future in occupied Korea. In early-twentieth-century Korea, Najin Han, the privileged daughter of a calligrapher, longs to choose her own destiny. Smart and headstrong, she is encouraged by her mother-but her stern father is determined to maintain tradition, especially as the Japanese steadily gain control of his beloved country. When he seeks to marry Najin into an aristocratic family, her mother defies generations of obedient wives and instead sends her to serve in the king's court as a companion to a young princess. But the king is soon assassinated, and the centuries-old dynastic culture comes to its end.In the shadow of the dying monarchy, Najin begins a journey through increasing oppression that will forever change her world. As she desperately seeks to continue her education, will the unexpected love she finds along the way be enough to sustain her through the violence and subjugation her country continues to face? Spanning thirty years, The Calligrapher's Daughter is a richly drawn novel in the tradition of Lisa See and Amy Tan about a country torn between ancient customs and modern possibilities, a family ultimately united by love, and a woman who never gives up her search for freedom.
The timeline of occupied Korea refers to the period when Korea was under Japanese rule, commonly known as the period of Japanese occupation or the Chōsen years. Here is a general timeline of key events during this period:
1910 (August 22): The Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty is signed, officially annexing Korea into the Japanese Empire.
1919 (March 1): The March 1st Movement begins as a nonviolent protest against Japanese rule. It marks a significant event in the Korean independence movement.
1920s: During this decade, Japan implements policies to assimilate Korea into the Japanese Empire. This includes the imposition of Japanese culture, language, and education.
1930s: Japan enforces various measures to strengthen its control over Korea. This includes efforts to suppress Korean culture, promote Shinto practices, and conscript Koreans for forced labor.
1937 (July 7): The Marco Polo Bridge Incident marks the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War, leading to increased Japanese militarization in the region.
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Westwood Public Library