When a writer from North Korea finds an English-language publisher, it is usually dissident literature, telling of tortuous escapes from an oppressive regime and its abuses of human rights. Adding a different perspective to the hermit kingdom is the recently published ¡°Friend,¡± a state-approved novel by Paek Nam-nyong.
An interesting cultural and historical artifact, ¡°Friend¡± was written for North Koreans by one of the country¡¯s most celebrated novelists, which means for readers abroad to find value, it should be taken exactly for what it is. No use searching here for hidden subversion: This story passed the censors for a reason.
Friend: A Novel from North Korea, by Paek Nam-nyongTranslated by Immanuel Kim240 pagesCOLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS
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