These are the covers of the novel "8 Lives of a Century-old Trickster" by Mirinae Lee. (Screen capture from Mirinae Lee's website)

By Lee Jihae

Author Mirinae Lee (Lee Mirinae) is the first Korean to win the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing of the U.S. for her novel "8 Lives of a Century-old Trickster."

The San Francisco-based William Saroyan Foundation on Aug. 24 announced that Lee's novel was selected for the award.

The author's debut novel is about the turbulent life of a woman set amid Japanese colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, national liberation and the Korean War.

The judges called the work "a beautifully complex story of human frailty and strength."

"Lee's characters are so fascinating and complicated that the need to decipher them and unravel their mysteries generates unexpected suspense and a desire to rush toward the answers, but her lyrical and evocative prose simultaneously demands a slow savoring of each page."

Launched in 2003, the Saroyan award honors the eponymous American writer (1908-81). The biennial prize is run by the foundation and Stanford University and selects up-and-coming writers of fiction and non-fiction.

Lee, whose native tongue is Korean, wrote the book in English and published it first in the U.K. and U.S. The Korean-language edition came out a month ago.

Attending elementary, middle and high school in Korea, the author went to the U.S. to major in English at university and later moved to Hong Kong.

jihlee08@korea.kr