[Encounter] Familiar yet Unfamiliar Stories of Europe

[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] What caught the author's eye at the Duomo Cathedral, a symbol of Florence, Italy, was a dog eating ice cream. An elderly couple sitting on a bench next to the Duomo Cathedral was feeding their dog ice cream as they ate. The grandfather would take a bite of ice cream and then unfailingly give a bite to the dog. The dog knew that after the grandfather ate, it was its turn. The author felt as if entering the dog's mind and understood that joyful feeling, then headed toward the Duomo Complex.

The Duomo Complex refers to the area around the Duomo Cathedral, including the cathedral itself, the dome-shaped roof called the Cupola, Giotto's Bell Tower right next to the cathedral, the museum behind the cathedral, and the Baptistery of San Giovanni.

The author especially stood for a long time in front of the east door of the Baptistery of San Giovanni, known as the "Gates of Paradise." The Gates of Paradise are decorated with bronze relief works depicting ten stories from the Old Testament. These works were created by the somewhat unfamiliar Italian sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378?1455), and the famous Michelangelo (1475?1564), captivated by their delicate beauty, gave them the name "Gates of Paradise."

"European Humanities Walk" tells stories of Europe that are both familiar and unfamiliar. When hearing "Duomo Complex," one might naturally expect stories about the Duomo Cathedral, but instead, it tells the story of the Gates of Paradise at the Baptistery of San Giovanni.

The publisher, Eunhaengnamu, introduces the author, Professor Yoon Jae-woong of the Department of Korean Language Education at Dongguk University, as someone who has consistently portrayed the world in his own unique language. Through "European Humanities Walk," we can see a different side of Europe that we might have overlooked, as drawn by Professor Yoon. Eunhaengnamu also describes Professor Yoon as a Korean literature scholar who deeply contemplates the beauty of the Korean language and indulges in the world of poetry.

Professor Yoon has authored many books, including the academic work "Midang Seo Jeong-ju," the critical essay "Norms and De-norms of Literary Criticism," the novel "Map of Pangaea," and the children's story "The Excited Vegetable School." However, he confesses that he is a reader who loves poetry.

The first chapter of the French walk features the grave of poet Charles Baudelaire (1821?1867) in the Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris. Professor Yoon plays Baudelaire's poem "Ascension," recorded by his daughter in French, and pays homage at the grave. Teaching favorite poems to children or students to recite in front of the poet's grave is Professor Yoon's humble way of expressing his feelings to the poet. "Ascension" is a poem that captivated Professor Yoon when he was seventeen years old.

The writing exudes a sensibility more like that of a poet than a scholar. The reason the author’s gaze was drawn to the dog in front of the Duomo Cathedral was likely due to this poetic sensibility. The book introduces various poems intermittently, including "The Light of the Meadow" by English poet William Wordsworth (1770?1850), "Under the Mirabeau Bridge Flows the Seine" by French poet Guillaume Apollinaire (1880?1919), and "Until the Peony Blooms" by Kim Young-rang (1903?1950). This offers readers a new way to savor Europe.

The process of completing each piece by drawing materials from various fields such as poetry, novels, films, music, and art is also fascinating.

Professor Yoon’s journey also leads to "Shakespeare and Company," the secondhand bookstore on the banks of the Seine featured in the novel "The Time-Traveler's Paris Bookshop" (2005) by Canadian journalist Jeremy Mercer. Shakespeare and Company was established in 1919. At this bookstore, Professor Yoon recalls Irish writer James Joyce (1882?1941) and his "Ulysses," playwright Samuel Beckett (1906?1989), author of "Waiting for Godot," and the film "Before Sunset."

"European Humanities Walk" contains the sights, sounds, and feelings experienced while walking through Italy, France, and Spain. The book covers fifteen cities visited by Professor Yoon and features about 60 bright and vivid photographs that catch the eye.

(Written by Yoon Jae-woong / Eunhaengnamu / 16,000 KRW)