45 pages • 1 hour read
Masaji Ishikawa, Transl. Martin Brown, Transl. Risa KobayashiA River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2000A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea is a memoir by Masaji Ishikawa, with translation by Risa Kobayashi and Martin Brown. It narrates Ishikawa's harrowing experiences as a Korean-Japanese individual living under North Korea's oppressive regime and his perilous journey to freedom.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea delivers a harrowing account of Ishikawa's life in North Korea and his daring escape. The narrative is gripping and eye-opening, providing insight into the regime's brutality. Some readers find the prose straightforward but lacking depth in emotional reflection. Overall, it's a powerful memoir that sheds light on a hidden world.
Who Should Read A River in Darkness?
Readers who value human rights, political memoirs, and survival stories will appreciate A River in Darkness. Fans of Escape from Camp 14 or Nothing to Envy will find this compelling North Korean defection story deeply engrossing and enlightening.