The Descendants of Cain

The Descendants of Cain is a 1954 novel by South Korean writer Hwang Sun-won.
It was instantly popular and has continued to be a steady seller ever since. It was selected by LTI Korea for translation into English and French.

Plot

Set in 1946, the novel's central theme is the forced collectivization of agricultural land in North Korea, a national crisis that altered the path of the history of Korea. The main character Pak Hun goes through a romantic experience with a married daughter of his tenent farmer, which greatly changes his worldview and opinions on the Soviet occupation of Korea.

Publication details

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Film

The novel was adapted into a 1968 movie directed by Yu Hyun-mok.