Look inside

Novels

The Orphan Master's Son

4.2(44)
Language
English
Available nowFree shipping
Buy Now

About the book

The award-winning and New York Times bestselling novel: a dark and witty story of the rise of a young orphan in the surreal and tyrannical regime of North Korea.

'You know you are in the hands of someone who can tell a story. Fantastic' ZADIE SMITH
'A stunning feat of imagination' STEPHEN KING

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST

------

Young Pak Jun Do is convinced he is special. He knows he must be the unique son of the master of the orphanage, and definitely not some kid dumped by his parents. Surely it was obvious from the way his father singled him out for regular beating?

He finds his calling when he is picked as a spy and kidnapper for his nation, the glorious Democratic Republic of North Korea.

He knows he must find his true love, Sun Moon, the greatest opera star who ever lived, before it's too late.

He knows he's not like the other prisoners in the camp.

He's going to get out soon.

Isn't he?

This hilarious, dark literary epic of a young boy's rise in North Korea from orphan to high-ranking officer won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and was shortlisted for the National Book Award.
Adam Johnson is working on a new work of fiction.

'An addictive novel of daring ingenuity' DAVID MITCHELL
'Excavates the very meaning of life' NEW YORK TIMES

Editions (2)

ISBN9780552778251
PublisherTransworld Publ. Ltd UK
Publication Date02/14/13
Pages575

Reviews & Ratings

44 ratings

4 reviews

4.2

Tap to filter

  • ricos
    ricos

    36 Followers

    4.0

    Die Geschichte beschreibt die ziemlich grotesken Erlebnisse des Waisenjungen unter dem geliebten Führer, wie es in Nordkorea zugeht, weiß im Westen niemand so genau, aber die Straflager, der allgegenwärtige Hunger, der Führerkult, das klingt alles echt realistisch. Jun do wirkt etwas wie Simplicissimus oder Schweijk, aber so richtig warm wird man mit ihm nicht. Literarisch ist es ganz gut, man merkt die amerikanischen Schreibschulen. Würde ich es empfehlen? Wegen der Einblicke in den nordkoreanischen Alltag, ja.

    Jul 1, 2024

  • 5.0

    Spannend und interessant

    Ein tolles Leseerlebnis. Ich konnte das Buch kaum aus der Hand legen. Die Geschichte des Jun Do hat mich sehr fasziniert. Durch den flüssigen Schreibstil war das Buch sehr gut zu lesen und bis zum Ende hin spannend. Leseempfehlung!

    Jan 6, 2025

  • stanky
    stanky

    1 Followers

    5.0

    Bought this book because of its cover. It was hard to read. When you think about what we hear what is going on in north korea and then read this book, there are shure similarities. It left me sad, devastated and in disbelief. A really good book.

    Aug 24, 2023

3 of 4 reviews

Reading is better with the READO app.

Discover books, track progress, read together.

Library

Keep track