Anne Carson book sales in South Korea surge up to 184-fold after Nobel literature prize
In short
Sales of Anne Carson's books at South Korean bookstores jumped after she was named this year's Nobel literature laureate on October 8, rising 138-fold at Kyobo Book Centre and about 184-fold at Yes24, according to the retailers' figures. 'Autobiography of Red' (빨강의 자서전) was the top seller, with sales up 367-fold at Yes24. Publisher Nanda (난다) said its stock had run out and reprints would follow the Hangul Day holiday.
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Sales of Anne Carson's books in South Korea rose sharply after she was named this year's Nobel literature laureate. According to Kyobo Book Centre, sales of her books from 8 p.m. on October 8, when the winner was announced, to 9 a.m. on October 9 were 138 times the earlier level. At Yes24, sales in the 12 hours to 8 a.m. on October 9 were about 184 times higher. Kukmin Ilbo and Yonhap compared both figures with sales before the announcement, while Asia Economy compared them with the same hours the previous day and gave the Kyobo figure as 138.1-fold. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
'Autobiography of Red' (빨강의 자서전) was Kyobo's best-selling Carson title after the announcement, followed by 'Nox' (녹스), 'The Beauty of the Husband' (남편의 아름다움), 'Eros, Bittersweet' (에로스, 달콤씁쓸한) and 'Short Stories' (짧은 이야기들), as the Korean editions are titled. At Yes24, sales of 'Autobiography of Red' rose 367-fold. The book ranked first on Kyobo's online daily bestseller list for October 8, with 'Nox' sixth and 'The Beauty of the Husband' eighth. It also topped the Yes24 daily bestseller list, and 'Autobiography of Red' and 'Nox' were first and second on Aladin (알라딘)'s top 10 for October 8. Asia Economy reported that Carson's works held the top four places on Aladin's real-time chart on the morning of October 9, and Yonhap reported that 'Anne Carson' was the top search term on Yes24 as of 10:30 a.m. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Yoo Sung-won (유성원) of Nanda (난다), which has published the most Carson titles in Korea, told Yonhap that orders surged after the announcement and the company's stock had run out, and that books would have to be reprinted after the Hangul Day holiday. Asia Economy reported that Nanda plans to reprint and ship from October 12, as printers are closed for the holiday. It also reported that some books in high demand were switched to pre-order at major online bookstores. [ 2 , 3 ]
Kyobo set up an Anne Carson display at its Gwanghwamun store on the morning of October 9 but reportedly had difficulty because it held few copies. Asia Economy reported that most of the books prepared were sold during the morning. Yes24 and Aladin have set up special Anne Carson pages and are running congratulatory comment events. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Nine of Carson's books have been published in Korean: four by Nanda, three by Hankyoreh Publishing (한겨레출판), and 'Float' (플로트) and 'Nox' by Bomnal-ui Chaek (봄날의책). 'Autobiography of Red' retells the tenth labour of Heracles from the perspective of Geryon, the red monster he kills. The Swedish Academy cited bold and original work that creates new forms of modern literature through a playful dialogue with the classical tradition, Asia Economy reported. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The figures show demand for the Nobel laureate's work in South Korea outrunning available stock at both publishers and bookstores. Outlets reported that publishers and booksellers are moving to restock and market her books, with reprints planned after the holiday.
Key facts
- The Swedish Academy named Anne Carson this year's Nobel literature laureate on October 8 (local time). [ 3 ]
- Kyobo Book Centre said sales of Carson's books from 8 p.m. on October 8 to 9 a.m. on October 9 were 138 times the earlier level. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- At Yes24, sales of Carson's books in the 12 hours to 8 a.m. on October 9 rose about 184-fold, and sales of 'Autobiography of Red' rose 367-fold. [ 1 , 3 ]
- 'Autobiography of Red' topped Kyobo's online daily bestseller list for October 8 and the Yes24 daily bestseller list. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Nine of Carson's books have been translated and published in South Korea, by Nanda, Hankyoreh Publishing (한겨레출판) and Bomnal-ui Chaek (봄날의책). [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Nanda said orders after the announcement had exhausted its stock and that it would reprint after the Hangul Day holiday. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Kyobo set up an Anne Carson display at its Gwanghwamun store on the morning of October 9 but had difficulty stocking it. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kyobo Book Centre reported a 138-fold rise in sales of Carson's books from 8 p.m. on October 8 to 9 a.m. on October 9. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Yes24 reported an approximately 184-fold rise in sales of Carson's books in the 12 hours after the announcement, and a 367-fold rise for 'Autobiography of Red'. [ 1 , 3 ]
- 'Autobiography of Red' was the best-selling Carson title and topped daily bestseller lists. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Nanda's stock of Carson's books ran out after the announcement and reprints are planned after the Hangul Day holiday. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Nine Carson books have been translated and published in South Korea. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- What the sales increases are measured against. Kukmin Ilbo and Yonhap compare with sales before the announcement, while Asia Economy compares with the same hours on the previous day.
- When reprinted books will reach stores. Asia Economy reports reprinting and shipping from October 12; Yonhap says only after the Hangul Day holiday.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 8: the Nobel literature laureate is announced; bookstore sales counting starts. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- October 9: end of Yes24's 12-hour window showing an approximately 184-fold sales rise. [ 1 , 3 ]
- October 9: end of Kyobo's window showing a 138-fold sales rise. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- 'Anne Carson' is the top search term on Yes24. [ 2 ]
- 'Autobiography of Red' remains at the top of Kyobo's real-time sales ranking. [ 3 ]