Korea

"Korea" by A. (Angus) Hamilton is a historical examination of Korea's socio-political climate at the turn of the 20th century. The book concentrates on Korea's connection with other countries, especially Japan and Russia. It goes into detail about Korean society, the economy, and the government, especially about the fight for independence and change. Describing the dangerous navigation and shipwrecks that foreign sailors have experienced, the book opens with a discussion of the scarcity of reliable naval studies of the Korean coast. Islands and distinctive geographical traits of Korea are described by Hamilton, who also highlights the beauty and hazard of its seas. He also touches on the superstitions and customs that Koreans have about their homeland as well as the historical value of earlier explorers who traveled there. This foreshadows the combination of respect and anxiety that would come to define foreign-Korean ties in the historical backdrop that is given throughout the book.