Hello
Gentle Reader
It’s
been four years since the Future Library Project has begun and its first secret
manuscript has been locked away from the world for a hundred years—that would
Margaret Atwood’s “Scribbler Moon.” Since then, three other writers have been
asked to relinquish an original piece of literary work to the project; they
include: David Mitchell from the United Kingdom, Sjon from Iceland, and Elif
Shafak from Turkey. The newest writer to be inducted into the Future Library
Project is the internationally renowned (South) Korean writer, Han Kang.
The
induction of Han Kang will mark the first time the Future Library Project has
left the North American and Europe sphere of influence, and enter the Far East.
Han Kang is a unique choice for the project; she’s a recent international
literary breakthrough. Her novel “The Vegetarian,” won the Man Booker International
Prize, and was critically acclaimed, as has been her novel “Human Acts,” and
her uniquely poignant poetic modernist autobiographical portrait: “The White Book.”
Since her prize winning novel “The Vegetarian,” Han Kang has been a constant
star on the literary scene and translated literature. Her themes, however, are
universal as they are subversive of the everyday cruelty, injustice, madness,
and violence which transpire throughout the world on a day to day basis, as
well as give commentary on the fragility and frailty of human life in all its precious
preoccupations. Katie Paterson, the artist behind the project, remarked that
Han Kang’s work can be at times uncomfortable, as it forces the reader to
confront the blatant transience of life; a loss of trust in humankind, the acts
of mourning and remembering, but also about the shared ideal of human dignity,
which in today’s world is a triumphant beacon of hope, but sadly is never boisterous
enough to echo louder over the ranting and raving lunacy of contemporary
society.
The
Future Library Project has been kind enough to honour such wonderful writers of
today whose manuscripts when they are published a hundred years from now will
echo their authors original voices, far beyond when they themselves have gone
silent lost to both memory and time. The time capsule not only preservers their
work, but also their spirit and voice for a hundred years, when it will be
released once again, at which point it will echo through the forest, in a time
and a society yet completely foreign to it.
I
have not had the pleasure of reading Han Kang; yet, I do view her in contrast
to her contemporary Bae Suah. Yet, Bae Suah, is more an outsider then Han Kang
perhaps; and her work is noted for being more cerebral in scope and delivery;
whereas Han Kang is said to occupy the heart and soul of society; Bae Suah,
occupies the mind and the shadow. Both writers I presume (as I’ve only read
Suah) are remarkable in their talents, and I do hope Bae Suah, will be
considered for the project as well in the near future as well.
For
now Han Kang will draft a manuscript to join the works of the following authors
and their manuscripts:
(2014)
Margaret Atwood – “Scribbler Moon,”
(2015)
David Mitchell – “From Me Flows What You Call Time,”
(2016)
Sjon – “As My Brow Brushes On The Tunics Of Angels or The Drop Tower, the
Roller Coaster, the Whirling Cups and other Instruments of Worship from the
Post-Industrial Age.”
(2017)
Elif Shafak – “The Last Taboo,”
Perhaps
the greatest pity of the future library project is we will not be around to
read the anthology of voices of this age being presented to the world a hundred
years from now. It’s a curious thought what they’ve written, and what remarks
they have made on contemporary society and the world, and what kind of society
and world will greet them when they have been awakened from their capsule.
Congratulations
to Han Kang for receiving the honour to join the project and offer her own
voice to the chorus of the past which will sail through time, only to be
reawakened a century later to be read, analyzed, and pondered on.
Thank-you
For Reading Gentle Reader
Take
Care
And
As Always
Stay
Well Read
M.
Mary
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