Nobel Laureate Han Kang Announces First Nonfiction Book in English
Readers across the United Kingdom and other English-speaking regions have a significant literary event to anticipate next spring. Nobel laureate Han Kang will see her first work of nonfiction published in English. The book, titled "Light and Thread," is scheduled for a global release on 24 March 2026.
What to Expect from 'Light and Thread'
The publication will be handled by Penguin Random House imprints in both the US and the UK, ensuring wide availability. This collection, which was published in Korean earlier this year, has been brought to an English-speaking audience through the collaborative work of translators Maya West, e. yaewon, and Paige Aniyah Morris.
The content of "Light and Thread" offers a deep and personal look into the author's mind. It is a multifaceted work that includes her powerful Nobel lecture from 2024, alongside a curated selection of other writings and photographs. Han Kang herself provided insight into the creative process behind the book.
In an official statement, she shared, "As I arranged the essays, poems, diary entries, and photographs to be included in this book, I imagined all of its spaces — from the first page to the last — enveloped in light." She expressed her gratitude, adding, "I am grateful and glad that this light, imbued into this English translation, continues to encounter readers."
A Landmark Author's Continuing Legacy
Han Kang made history as the first South Korean writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. She is already a celebrated figure in the UK literary scene, best known for her novel "The Vegetarian," which won the International Booker Prize in 2016. The arrival of "Light and Thread" marks a new chapter, allowing her audience to connect with her more intimate, non-fictional voice.
This release is poised to be a major event for book lovers, offering a unique opportunity to explore the thoughts and reflections of one of the most important literary voices of our time directly from the source.
