Fastbook is garnering attention for selecting Mora’s new historical novel, ‘Soedalhaeyeon,’ as this month’s recommended novel. Set during the early Silla period when iron culture flourished, the work dynamically re-examines the life of Seoktalhae, considered the de facto founder of Silla, through three key keywords: iron, salt, and horses.
Fastbook’s newly recommended historical novel by Mora, ‘Soedalhaeyeon,’ is set against the backdrop of the early Silla period, a crucial turning point in our history marked by the flourishing of iron civilization. The novel portrays Seoktalhae, whom we only encountered fragmentarily in textbooks, as a three-dimensional character, unfolding an intriguing narrative of how he laid the foundation for Silla.
In particular, the work meticulously explores the economic and cultural foundations of society at that time through three symbolic elements: ‘iron,’ ‘salt,’ and ‘horses.’ Following these keywords, readers can vividly experience the rise of iron civilization and the establishment of the ancient state’s framework, and beyond a mere recounting of historical facts, they can glimpse how human desires and struggles shaped the era.
Author Mora has consistently presented in-depth works about Silla, based on actual historical records and ancient legends. He explains that ‘Soedalhaeyeon’ goes beyond simple historical verification, posing fundamental questions about the fragments of life that have continuously flowed through our DNA. The author stated her intention, saying, ‘Rather than dealing with profound or difficult discourse, I wanted to show the dynamic narrative of humans pioneering civilization themselves, moving beyond mythical conventions.’
The Fastbook editorial department also evaluated the work as transcending mere fictional storytelling. They stated that thorough historical verification combined with the author’s rich humanistic imagination resulted in a highly complete historical novel. The editorial department particularly emphasized that the vivid depiction of dialects from ancient Yeongnam region’s small states and the fierce lives of individuals living in the Iron Age will provide readers with a special experience, and the author’s excellent writing skill in filling historical gaps is also unparalleled.
Readers who have encountered ‘Soedalhaeyeon’ express high satisfaction with the deep immersion and opportunity for reflection provided by this work. One online bookstore reader commented, ‘The story of Silla’s founding, learned from textbooks, has been transformed into a vivid drama through fresh themes like ‘iron’ and ‘horses.” He added that the delicate emotions, such as the joys and sorrows of ancient people, were excellently depicted within the vast scale, leading to profound immersion.
This novel goes beyond simply telling a story of the past; it also delivers an important message to us living in the present. Through the work, readers can reflect on themselves by posing questions about the origins of individuals and communities, much like the review stating, ‘It’s a gem of a novel that makes you deeply reflect on our roots and identity once again.’ These points are why ‘Soedalhaeyeon’ resonates deeply with readers, transcending a mere historical novel.
Thus, author Mora’s ‘Soedalhaeyeon’ is highly acclaimed as a masterpiece that densely portrays the fierce life of an individual and the narrative of civilizational development, set against the captivating historical backdrop of ancient Silla. This work, which will offer readers new perspectives and deep emotional resonance through its balance of historical imagination and verification, is available in print and e-book formats at major online bookstores nationwide.
