In years past, NCBA nominated other books by Ko Un translated by this trio: “Ten Thousand Lives” (also from Green Integer), and “Flowers of a Moment (BOA Editions, Ltd.), the latter having tied for winner’s place with UC Press’ “Three Way Tavern,” a selection of poems also by Ko Un, translated by Claire You and Richard Silberg (UC Press).

Korean poetry is not yet widely known or appreciated in the West, compared to Chinese or Japanese, but Ko Un is a great example of modern Korean poetry, indeed known by many as the nation’s unofficial poet laureate.  One factor making translating his work doubly difficult is his facility at an amazingly wide range of genres and styles.  As the introduction to “Songs for Tomorrow” states, to follow the major periods of his work is to see much of modern Korean culture and history encapsulated, a history wherein he’s not only been eye-witness but also an activist.

The ceremony will be held April 18th at 1PM at the San Francisco Public Library.

Links:

San Jose Mercury News announcement
http://bit.ly/bWkutZ

SF Chronicle announcement
http://bit.ly/clvrTM

Northern California Book Awards
http://www.poetryflash.org/NCBA.html

Green Integer on "Songs for Tomorrow":
http://greeninteger.blogspot.com/2009/02/ko-uns-songs-for-tomorrow-now-available.html

A brief review of "Songs for Tomorrow":
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/12/142_42948.html

Wikipedia entry for Ko Un:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ko_Un

2005 bio of Ko Un by Brother Anthony:
http://hompi.sogang.ac.kr/anthony/Kounbio.htm

A partial bibliography of incunabula with some online translations of and acrticles about  Ko Un:
http://hompi.sogang.ac.kr/anthony/KoUnPublications.htm

Ko Un’s website: www.koun.co.kr/

For more information contact:
Gary Gach
1.415.771.7793
H o m e p a g e : http://word.To