Quiet Odyssey: A Pioneer Korean Woman in America is an autobiography by Mary Paik Lee, published by University of Washington Press in 1990. Sucheng Chan wrote the introduction, which is 30 pages long. [1]
At the time of publication, it was the sole full length book about a 1903-1905 arrival immigrant from Korea to the United States that was still in print at the time. There was also an out of print book about a Korean immigrant who arrived in that time period. [2] Additionally, it was the first autobiography to have coverage of a whole life that was in a full length format and that was written by an American woman of Asian ancestry. [3]
The work originated from a manuscript. Wayne Patterson of St. Norbert College stated that Chan was "largely responsible" for obtaining the manuscript and facilitating it being made into a full length volume. [1]
The author, in this work, also writes about historical events happening during her lifetime. [4]
Patterson stated that the "unbridled optimism" expressed, despite a lack of money and prejudice, was "striking, almost quaint". [2]
The volume has multiple photographs of the author's family. Reviewer Glenna Matthews referred to them as "eloquent". [5]
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Elaine H. Kim of University of California Berkeley wrote that the book is a "profoundly significant accomplishment", [6] and that she praised both the "vivid" narrative from the author and the notes from Chan. [7]
Publishers Weekly wrote that the book is "accessible" and that the notes given by Lee "make [it] a worthwhile addition to the scholarship on Asian American culture." [4]