{{Short description|2011 novel by Han Kang}} {{Italic title}}{{Infobox book | author = Han Kang | isbn = 9788954616515 | language = Korean | country = South Korea | published = {{plainlist| * 2011 (Munhakdongne) (Korean) * 2017 (Plumes) (French) * 2023 (Pax) (Norwegian) * 2023 (Hogarth) (English) * 2023 (Random House) (Spanish) * 2023 (La Magrana) (Catalan) }} | pages = 194 (1st Korean edition) | image = Greek Lessons book cover.jpg | caption = First English edition }}
'''''Greek Lessons''''' ({{Langx|ko|희랍어 시간|translit=Huilabeo Sigan}}) is a 2011 novel by South Korean author Han Kang. Published in South Korea on November 10, 2011, the book received an English-language release on April 18, 2023 by Hogarth Press. The novel was translated into English by Deborah Smith and Emily Yae Won.
== Plot == A young, recently mute woman begins taking a class in Ancient Greek in an effort to reclaim language in some way. Her teacher, who is slowly going blind, draws closer to her over the course of their classes. As they become more intimately connected, they explore their inner pains and tensions together.
== Development ==
=== Publication history === ''Greek Lessons'' was first published in South Korea on November 10, 2011, by Munhakdongne. The English-language edition, translated by Deborah Smith and Emily Yae Won, was published by Hogarth Press on April 18, 2023.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kang |first=Han |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pg58EAAAQBAJ |title=Greek Lessons |publisher=Hogarth Press |year=2023 |isbn=9780593595275 |at=Copyright page |translator-last=Smith |translator-first=Deborah |translator-last2=Won |translator-first2=Emily Yae}}</ref>
== Reception == ''Publishers Weekly'' and ''Kirkus Reviews'' both published positive reviews praising the narrative and Han's prose.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greek Lessons |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780593595275 |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=Publishers Weekly}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-25 |title=Greek Lessons |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/han-kang/greek-lessons/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=Kirkus Reviews}}</ref> ''The San Francisco Chronicle'' described Han as "one of the most unconventional, perceptive, and truly innovative writers publishing today" in a positive review, while ''The Los Angeles Times'' praised her for "writing into discomfort."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burling |first=Alexis |date=2023-04-16 |title=Review: Human connection flickers and ignites in hypnotic novel from award-winning author |url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/books/review-greek-lessons-han-kang-17823271 |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Filgate |first=Michele |date=2023-04-17 |title=Why 'The Vegetarian' author Han Kang's newly translated novel is her gutsiest yet |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2023-04-17/han-kang-vegetarian-newly-translated-novel-gutsiest-yet |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Em Strang wrote in ''The Guardian'' that translating the book into English was a benefit as it highlighted the book's thematic exploration of language.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Strang |first=Em |date=2023-04-11 |title=Greek Lessons by Han Kang review – loss forges an intimate connection |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/apr/11/greek-lessons-by-han-kang-review-loss-forges-an-intimate-connection |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> ''TIME'' named the book one of the 100 must-read books of 2023, calling it a "profoundly sad yet hopeful look at the connection that comes with shared language—even when it is not spoken."<ref>{{cite web |title='Greek Lessons' Is One of the 100 Must-Read Books of 2023 |url=https://time.com/collection/must-read-books-2023/6332655/greek-lessons/ |website=TIME Magazine |access-date=22 November 2024 |language=en |date=14 November 2023}}</ref>
Idra Novey, writing for ''The New York Times Book Review'', praised Han's character work and the novel's themes yet noted that Han's "voice seem[ed] less certain" than in her previous work.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Novey |first=Idra |date=2023-04-18 |title=A Narrator Locked in Silence, Who Finds Solace in an Ancient Language |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/18/books/review/greek-lessons-han-kang.html |url-access=limited |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=The New York Times}}</ref> In contrast, ''The Times''' Alice O'Keefe was more critical, writing that Han's language could be "beautiful and surprising" yet criticizing the novel's dark tone.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Keeffe |first=Alice |date=2023-04-15 |title=Greek Lessons by Han Kang review — a blind man, a mute woman and a dull novel |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/greek-lessons-by-han-kang-review-fjgzfk2cg |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230415072039/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/greek-lessons-by-han-kang-review-fjgzfk2cg |archive-date=2023-04-15 |access-date=2023-04-22 |url-status=live |website=The Times}}</ref> A review in ''The Wall Street Journal'' concurred, arguing that the novel's existential themes were better handled in her previous book ''The Vegetarian''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sacks |first=Sam |date=2023-04-14 |title=Fiction: 'Stay This Day and Night With Me' by Belén Gopegui |url=https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/fiction-review-stay-this-day-and-night-with-me-by-belen-gopegui-7f087aae |access-date=2023-04-22 |website=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Han Kang}} {{Authority control}}
Category:2011 novels Category:21st-century South Korean novels Category:Novels by Han Kang Category:Hogarth Press books Category:Pax Forlag books