Author Description

A must-have collection of folktales for anyone interested in Korean literature and culture! Tales of Korea is a classic collection of Korea's best-known folktales—presenting all the imagination and wonder of Korean storytelling in a single volume. Collected and written down by Yi Ryuk and Im Bang over three centuries ago, these 53 tales explore fantasy worlds filled with enchanted animals, fairies, goblins, ghosts, princesses and more! The stories collected in this volume include: "The Home of the Fairies" —A young man happens upon a magical fairy town where he stays for several years before returning home to an uncertain future. "Charan"— A beautiful dancing girl befriends a governor's son. As their friendship blossoms into love, their lives take an unexpected and agonizing turn! "Ten Thousand Devils"— A prince welcomes a distant relative for a visit only to discover that the guest controls thousands of evil creatures that converge on the prince's home. "An Encounter with a Hobgoblin"— A man experiences horrifying visitations in his home and fears that he is living with a sinister force! "The Snake's Revenge"— After a soldier kills a snake, the reptile is reborn as the man's son and seeks revenge in a gruesome way! This new edition includes thirty full-color minhwa paintings (Korean folkart) to bring the magic and mystery of this collection of Korean folklore to life. A new foreword by Korean folklore expert Heinz Insu Fenkl explains the lasting importance of this fascinating collection of traditional stories. Tales of Korea is perfect for mythology fans and bedtime story lovers of all ages.