I really enjoyed this book, a set of four memoirs written by Lady Hyegyong in the Korean royal palace around 1800. The first three memoirs, written in 1795, 1801, and 1802, give fascinating details about life at court. Lady Hyegyong also describes her early life with her parents, how she was chosen to wed the Crown Prince, and how that changed her family's status. There are also many descriptions of plots and intrigues against her father and other relatives. The fourth memoir, of 1805, is the most powerful one. In this memoir, Lady Hyegyong finally describes the events that lead to the death of her husband, who suffered from some kind of mental illness. These circumstances are only alluded to in the other memoirs, but as Lady Hyegyong grows old she wants to leave a record of what truly happened for her grandson, the young King.

In addition, the translation is beautiful. It reads like a work originally in English and has none of the stiffness or artificiality present in some other translated books. There is a very comprehensive Introduction, some helpful Appendices (including family trees which are indispensable for keeping track of all the characters), and an index. There are also frequent endnotes and footnotes. ( )