Corea: The Hermit Nation

William Elliot Griffis wrote this comprehensive account of Korea in 1904, when the Hermit Kingdom stood at the threshold of profound transformation. Having actually lived in Korea during the 1870s as a foreign advisor to the government, Griffis offers something rare: a Westerner's direct observations of Korean society, politics, and culture at a pivotal historical moment. The book traces Korea's ancient foundations through the Joseon dynasty, examining how a proud civilization developed its famous policy of isolationism and why that isolation eventually became untenable. Griffis illuminates Korea's complex relationships with China and Japan, revealing the diplomatic tensions that would soon explode into war and colonization. This is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the deep historical currents beneath modern East Asian geopolitics.