TagChang-Rae Lee

Chang-Rae Lee is a Korean-American author recognized for his insightful explorations of identity, displacement, and the immigrant experience in America. Born in 1965 in South Korea, Lee immigrated to the United States with his family at a young age. He studied at Yale University and later earned an MFA from the University of Oregon. Lee’s debut novel, “Native Speaker” (1995), won several awards and established him as a distinctive voice in contemporary American literature. His subsequent works, including “A Gesture Life” (1999), “Aloft” (2004), and “The Surrendered” (2010), have received critical acclaim for their lyrical prose and complex characterizations. “The Surrendered” explores the aftermath of the Korean War through the intertwined lives of three characters—a Korean orphan, an American GI, and a missionary widow—illuminating the lasting impact of war and trauma. Lee’s writing is characterized by its sensitivity, empathy, and profound exploration of human resilience in the face of adversity.