Description:
Fifteen Years Among the Top Knots: Life in Korea is a firsthand memoir by Lillias Underwood recounting her years of living and working in Korea during a period of profound cultural encounters and historical change. Writing from direct experience, she offers vivid observations of daily life, customs, family structures, and social traditions, while also sharing her Christian perspective and reflections on gospel mission work. Blending personal reflection with historical detail and faith-driven insights, the memoir provides an intimate portrait of cross-cultural service, spiritual commitment, and the human stories behind a transforming nation.
Brief description:
Lillias Horton Underwood (1851-1921) was an American physician and Presbyterian medical missionary whose work played a significant role in early Western medicine and Christian mission efforts in Korea. Trained at the Woman's Medical College of Chicago, she served for many years in Seoul, including as a physician to Empress Myeong Seong. Her writings combine personal memoir with firsthand historical observation and deep Christian insight, offering rare perspective on faith, culture, and service during a pivotal period of Korean history.