Supernatural Korea: Magical Tales of Goblins, Dragons, Demons and More!

(Hardback)

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A gorgeously illustrated collection of 19 classic Korean tales of the supernatural!

From spine-chilling tales of shape-shifting beasts and vengeful demons to romantic stories of enchanted love, the 19 stories in this collection showcase Korea's rich folklore traditions. Included in this anthology are:

• The Hen and the Centipede: A poor man marries his wealthy employer, only to discover that she is an otherworldly centipede locked in an ancient battle with a ferocious white rooster.
• How Chin Outwitted the Devils: A clever policeman outwits fiendish emissaries from hell sent to capture the souls of the dying in earthenware bottles.
• The Swallow King's Rewards: A man is rewarded with magical riches for his kindness to an injured swallow, while his greedy brother is punished with outlandish afflictions.
• Yun Se-Pyong, the Wizard: Two powerful magicians face off, one as a beetle and the other as a bee.
• And 15 other supernatural tales that are sure to thrill readers young and old!

These classic tales are retold by authors who traveled to Korea and fell in love with the rich culture they encountered. This deluxe hardcover volume features original illustrations by Italian artist Marco Furlotti and will be treasured by fans of Korean culture, as well as anyone who enjoys a good demon story.

Author Bio

Marco Furlotti is an Italian artist and illustrator of books for children and adults. His children's books include the internationally successful series The Dragon and the Mouse (NuiNui) and Keb Mo's Life is Beautiful (Flowerpot Press). He is the creator of illustrated adaptations of Frankenstein, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Dracula. He produced the illustrations for this book using watercolor on paper, surrounded by his three little girls, their animals, and the soft Apennine hills of Parma, Italy.

Im Bang was born in Korea in 1640. A disciple of the writer Song Si-yol, his writings have long been revered in Korea, and his reputation as a great scholar has endured for centuries. Late in life, he served as governor of Seoul before being exiled to the north, where he died.

Horace Newton Allen, an American physician, missionary and diplomat, arrived in Korea in 1884 to serve as doctor to foreign legations and the Korean royal family. In 1897 he was appointed U.S. ambassador to Korea, a position he held until 1905. He is the author of four books, including Korean Tales.

James Gale was a Presbyterian minister who arrived in Korea in 1888 to teach English and help translate the bible into Korean. His books include History of the Korean People and Korean Folk Tales, in which he translated the writings of Im Bang and 15th century scholar Yi Ryuk.

William Elliot Griffis was an American minister and author with a lifelong interest in East Asian culture. His numerous books include volumes of folklore from Europe, Japan and Korea as well as books on Korean and Japanese history.

Homer Hulbert was an American missionary, scholar, and editor of the monthly magazine Korea Review. Hulbert moved to Korea in 1886 and spent two decades there preaching, teaching, writing, and pressing unsuccessfully for Korean independence during negotiations with Japan. Among the wide-ranging articles in his magazine were many folktales that he collected and translated.