"The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium."
Deborah Smith is shortlisted for the 2018 Man Booker International Prize for her translation of Han Kang’s The White Book.
Words Without Borders (WWB): What drew you to Han Kang’s work?
Deborah Smith (DS): Well, I first encountered her writing through The Vegetarian, and what drew me to that was the structure, the imagery, the tonal variation, the ferocity of the emotions, the restraint of the language . . . everything it’s been praised for. ...
Writing most likely began as a consequence of political expansion in ancient cultures, which needed reliable means for transmitting information, maintaining financial accounts, keeping historical records, and similar activities.