Review by Slater678 -- The Vanished by Pejay Bradley
Posted: 17 Jan 2021, 04:35
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Vanished" by Pejay Bradley.]
King Gojong, the king of Josun, and his first cousin, Prince Aansoon, were engaged in an animated conversation. They were discussing the recently signed treaty with Japan and its repercussions for their kingdom; that which had initially been presented to them as a trade pact turned out to be nothing but a right of occupation of Josun (Korea) by Japan. To the king and his subjects, August 29, 1910, the day of the treaty, remained etched in their minds forever. It was the day that they not only lost their sovereignty but also 5000 years of their culture.
The Vanished by Pejay Bradley chronicles a tribe’s fight for freedom and preservation of its culture. The citizens are so united in their fervor for patriotism that noblemen choose to commit suicide rather than endure the dishonor and shame resulting from the loss of statehood. Ordinary folk, on the other hand, forbidden to speak even their own language, take up arms and stage an uprising against the oppressors, while others head to Shanghai, China, to form a caretaker government in exile.
Even though the setting was well established, nevertheless, what I liked the most was the similarity in the story. This element made my understanding of the country, Josun, and the protagonist, Embon, more vivid. While Josun was reputed to have a rich culture, ample resources, and a proud citizenry, its long history of passivity landed it into a state of subservience to the emerging powerhouse that is Japan.
Similarly, Embon was born into a life of immense wealth and power. Reading his story, I expected him to accomplish much in life. Even so, Embon was faced with a myriad of misfortunes that only time determined if he emerged victorious. In both cases, the unfolding events forced the characters to rethink their circumstances and to forge a path for their future survival.
Having said that, I didn’t find anything dislikeable about the story. However, I did notice one missing word in a sentence. This didn’t affect the rating of the book, all the same. I, therefore, rate it 4 out of 4 stars.
Lastly, as historical fiction, this novel depicts how Korea’s freedom struggle affected the lives of ordinary folk. It’s a compelling book on what can go wrong when the ruling class of a nation lacks foresight and a sense of autonomy. I, thus, recommend the novel to those in a mood for a story exploring the freedom of self-determination. Conversely, it may be less suited to readers disinterested in books with descriptions of social class and its intricacies of economic and social empowerment.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
King Gojong, the king of Josun, and his first cousin, Prince Aansoon, were engaged in an animated conversation. They were discussing the recently signed treaty with Japan and its repercussions for their kingdom; that which had initially been presented to them as a trade pact turned out to be nothing but a right of occupation of Josun (Korea) by Japan. To the king and his subjects, August 29, 1910, the day of the treaty, remained etched in their minds forever. It was the day that they not only lost their sovereignty but also 5000 years of their culture.
The Vanished by Pejay Bradley chronicles a tribe’s fight for freedom and preservation of its culture. The citizens are so united in their fervor for patriotism that noblemen choose to commit suicide rather than endure the dishonor and shame resulting from the loss of statehood. Ordinary folk, on the other hand, forbidden to speak even their own language, take up arms and stage an uprising against the oppressors, while others head to Shanghai, China, to form a caretaker government in exile.
Even though the setting was well established, nevertheless, what I liked the most was the similarity in the story. This element made my understanding of the country, Josun, and the protagonist, Embon, more vivid. While Josun was reputed to have a rich culture, ample resources, and a proud citizenry, its long history of passivity landed it into a state of subservience to the emerging powerhouse that is Japan.
Similarly, Embon was born into a life of immense wealth and power. Reading his story, I expected him to accomplish much in life. Even so, Embon was faced with a myriad of misfortunes that only time determined if he emerged victorious. In both cases, the unfolding events forced the characters to rethink their circumstances and to forge a path for their future survival.
Having said that, I didn’t find anything dislikeable about the story. However, I did notice one missing word in a sentence. This didn’t affect the rating of the book, all the same. I, therefore, rate it 4 out of 4 stars.
Lastly, as historical fiction, this novel depicts how Korea’s freedom struggle affected the lives of ordinary folk. It’s a compelling book on what can go wrong when the ruling class of a nation lacks foresight and a sense of autonomy. I, thus, recommend the novel to those in a mood for a story exploring the freedom of self-determination. Conversely, it may be less suited to readers disinterested in books with descriptions of social class and its intricacies of economic and social empowerment.
******
The Vanished
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
