The Classical Moment is a reexamination of the concept of a supreme moment in the literatures of Greece, Mesopotamia, India, China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Taking the case of Greece as its starting point, it examines what such "moments" have in common, how they are created, and what effect they have on subsequent literary creation.

Distinguished scholars, policymakers, and journalists compare the effects of prolonged war on ancient Athens during the war with Sparta, and on the United States and the two Koreas, North and South, during the Korean War. Despite the very different circumstances of the two conflicts and the radically different way that each was viewed in its own time, the contributors point to many underlying similarities between the two wars.

Bringing together distinguished Classicists, Koreanists, and Americanists, this book examines the cultural and political/institutional dimensions of war's impact on society by comparing the effects of prolonged war on ancient Athens during the war with Sparta, and on the United States and the two Koreas, North and South, during the Korean War. Despite the very circumstances of the two conflicts and the radically different way each was viewed in its own time, the contributors point to many underlying similarities between the two wars and put each in a fascinating and unique perspective.

This is the first English translation of selected poems by one of the most important and unusual modern poets of South Korea. In contrast to the strident political protests found in the poetry of many of his contemporaries, Pak Chaesam's work is characterized by intimate portraits of place, nature, childhood, and human relationships, and by indirection, nostalgia, and reflectiveness.

Often focused upon the border of this world and some other, Pak writes with a spareness of presentation but a cornucopia of imagery, meticulously exploring objective and subjective realms of existence and memory. Encouraging the reader to see and listen, and to allow the sensory to reshape the analytical, Pak's poetry opens up new realms of experience. A fellow Korean poet described Pak's poetry as being "the most exquisite expression of the Korean sense of han," or melancholy.

A generous selection of poems by one of Korea's most honored and highly regarded poets. Kim Namjo published her first book of poems, Life (Moksum), in 1953. In the years since then, in another ten collections of poems, she has explored in her books, an intensely experienced religious faith, and a passionate affirmation of life. This is the first collection of poems by a Korean woman writer to be published in English language translation.

A generous selection of poems by one of Korea's most honored and highly regarded poets. Kim Namjo published her first book of poems, Life (Moksum), in 1953. In the years since then, in another ten collections of poems, she has explored in her books, an intensely experienced religious faith, and a passionate affirmation of life. This is the first collection of poems by a Korean woman writer to be published in English language translation.