For Immediate Release
Denver, Mar 18, 2013 — Author Don Southerton announces the release of his latest historical novel set in the early years of the twentieth century in what is now North Korea. The work is titled A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: The Northern Frontier, Book Three 1900–1907. The book weaves key historic events of the era with a fictional account of Yankee trader Josh Gillet.
Southerton notes, “Linking fact and fiction, A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: the Northern Frontier follows Connecticut Yankee Josh Gillet’s adventures in Korea during the early 1900s when American concessionaires and influence were making huge new inroads in Korea. ”
In addition the author points out, “American missionaries and traders formed a core cadre among the foreigners who ventured to what the West called the Hermit Kingdom. The Korean monarch Kojong, looking to thwart ever-growing Japanese imperialism, pursued a strategy of granting trade concessions, including lucrative mining rights, to westerners. By the early 1900s, the Northern Frontier mines were among the richest in Asia. It is here the main character Josh settles and becomes a productive member of the mining community. Meanwhile, growing tensions between Russia and Japan move the region and Korea ever closer to war.
A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: The Northern Frontier will appeal to those interested in better understanding Korea and the role westerners played in the opening of the region to the commerce and modernization.
About the Author
Don Southerton has held a life-long interest in Korea and the rich culture of the country. He has authored numerous publications with topics centering on the Korean auto industry, new urbanism, entrepreneurialism, and early U.S.-Korean business ventures. Southerton is often called upon by the media (the BBC World Service, Bloomberg TV, Korea Times, Yonhap, Wall Street Journal, tbs eFM and Forbes) to comment on modern Korean business culture and its impact on global organizations. His firm Bridging Culture Worldwide provides strategy, consulting and training to Korea-based global business.
This is the author’s third historical novel. The Northern Frontier is the final installment of the A Yankee in the Morning Calm trilogy. The series blends fact with ample amounts of imagination.
A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: The Northern Frontier will be available through iBooks, Kindle, Nook, and Google.
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