Short Synopsis
The Accusation is a deeply moving and eye-opening work of fiction that paints a powerful portrait of life under the North Korean regime.

Full Synopsis
The Accusation is a deeply moving and eye-opening work of fiction that paints a powerful portrait of life under the North Korean regime. Set during the period of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il's leadership, the seven stories that make up The Accusation give voice to people living under this most bizarre and horrifying of dictatorships. The characters of these compelling stories come from a wide variety of backgrounds, from a young mother living among the elite in Pyongyang whose son misbehaves during a political rally, to a former Communist war hero who is deeply disillusioned with the intrusion of the Party into everything he holds dear, to a husband and father who is denied a travel permit and sneaks onto a train in order to visit his critically ill mother. Written with deep emotion and writing talent, The Accusation is a vivid depiction of life in a closed-off one-party state, and also a hopeful testament to the humanity and rich internal life that persists even in such inhumane conditions.

"The Accusation continues to make international history as the first literary work smuggled out of repressive North Korea . . . As Bandi's characters both fear and sling accusations, the title takes on piercing gravitas for readers." ---Booklist Starred Review

"With these uncompromising stories, the pseudonymous Bandi gives a rare glimpse of life in the 'truly fathomless darkness' of North Korea." ---Publishers Weekly

"No fiction beyond a trickle of agitprop has passed beyond North Korea's borders, and of course dissident voices are suppressed altogether. When it was smuggled out, this story collection became an international publishing sensation." ---Library Journal

Booklist Review