This second novel by the author of The Widow's Daughter confirms Nicholas Edlin's growing reputation as one of New Zealand's finest young novelists. Mae Glass is the daughter of a once-famous American novelist. From New York to Auckland via post-war Korea, her colourful childhood was itself the stuff of stories. Thirty years later, a lawyer working in the Auckland crown prosecutor's office, she travels back to booming Seoul, which is preparing to host the Olympic Games. However, in Korea nothing is as it seems. Accompanied by a quirky, dubious team of guides, she tries to uncover the dark secret of her father's wartime exploits. But as she stalks the elusive mystery, Mae finds herself besieged by all manner of ghosts from the past – her Korean childhood sweetheart, her estranged husband, her only son ... The Below Country is a haunting, beautifully written novel about fragile innocence and the effects of loss. The powerful, ever-present thread of mystery and impending danger that drives the novel along makes The Below Country a readable, narrative-driven story that is hard to put down.
Nicholas Edlin was born and raised in Christchurch and lived for some time in Korea. He has a BA in English and Politics from Canterbury University, and a LLB (First Class Honours) from Victoria University. He has worked as a solicitor in Wellington and Auckland, and as a legal adviser at the Treasury Solicitor's Department in London.
Edlin's first novel,The Widow's Daughter, was described by Iain Sharpe as 'the New Zealand debut novel of 2010'. The Below Country is his eagerly awaited second novel, set partly in Korea. He currently lives in London with his partner.
