written by Margaret Macmillan / Translated by Heo Seung-cheol / With a book / 55,000 won
After World War I,which claimed tens of millions of lives,the Paris Peace Conference convened in 1919 to address the post-war landscape. Though initiated with the aim of preventing a repeat of such devastation, the outcome proved disappointing. The conference imposed harsh penalties on Germany, the defeated nation, and resulted in a problematic redistribution of colonies. Ultimately, these decisions contributed to the outbreak of World War II. The conference also holds painful memories for Koreans; during the Japanese colonial period, Kim Gyu-sik attended the Paris Peace Conference to expose the injustices of Japanese rule, but his pleas were disregarded by the major powers.
A new book offers fresh insights into the Paris Peace Conference, a gathering often subject to harsh criticism. This is ‘Paris 1919,’ a new work by acclaimed historian Margaret Macmillan. The author vividly and clearly portrays the tumultuous six months in Paris during the conference, weaving together the personal stories of individuals from each nation involved.