A Concise History of Modern Korea: From the Late Nineteenth Century to the Present - Tapa dura

Eminently readable... The text does read very smoothly, lacking any trace of academic jargon or other language off-putting to the average freshman or sophomore... Recommended. CHOICE Michael Seth's book provides an admirably graceful synthesis of the existing literature on modern Korea. It will be perfect for undergraduates and general readers who don't have a background in Korean history. -- Gregg Brazinsky, author of Nation Building in South Korea

This comprehensive and balanced history of modern Korea explores the social, economic, and political issues it has faced since being catapulted into the wider world at the end of the nineteenth century. Placing this formerly insular society in a global context, Michael J. Seth describes how this ancient, culturally and ethnically homogeneous society first fell victim to Japanese imperialist expansionism, and then was arbitrarily divided in half after World War II. Seth traces the postwar paths of the two Koreas-with different political and social systems and different geopolitical orientations-as they evolved into sharply contrasting societies. Considering the radically different trajectories of North and South Korea, Seth assesses the insights they offer for understanding modern Korea in global perspective.