The Calligrapher's Daughter is one of the best historical novels that I've read. It tells the story of Najin, born in Korea in 1910, and brought up as a Christian in a household run by Confucian principles. The novel follows her story through her education and marriage to a student who is traveling to the United States. Denied a passport at the last minute by the Japanese occupiers, she is separated from her husband for 11 years. This novel shows in intimate detail what life was like for women in Korea before the 2nd World War. It's fascinating and extremely well-written. It's followed by a sequel, The Kinship of Secrets, which I can hardly wait to read.
