The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly

A novel from Korean folk literature by the most famous novelist, Sun-mi Hwang, tells the story of a hen named Ipsak, who is no longer satisfied with laying eggs on demand, eggs that are taken away to be sold at the market. Every morning, she dreams of her future as she contemplates the coop where other animals roam freely. So, Ipsak devises a plan to escape into the wild to hatch one of the eggs she lays. Ipsak succeeds in escaping from the chicken coop and begins to pursue her dream of having her own chick, which she can raise and keep. To achieve this goal, she heads into the wild, but she must then struggle with many unexpected difficulties. Nevertheless, she does not give up on her dream. One day, Ipsak finds a stray egg, lays it down, and waits for it to hatch. However, she soon realizes that this egg belongs to a wild duck, not a chicken. When the egg hatches, the hen and her duckling, Green Top, begin to face reality: they are different in every way, especially in appearance. After a while, Green Top flies away, leaving Ipsak behind on the ground. Ipsak remains, watching her daughter with pride and a sense of sadness. But she still has to face something more difficult: the eyes of a female weasel are watching her. The story ends tragically, telling its reader that even in the animal world, the price of freedom is high… very high. This novel is a hymn to freedom, individuality, and motherhood. It tells the story of a heroine who rebels against a world governed by the traditions of the coop. The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly is a novel with universal dimensions, opening a window onto Korea, where it has captivated the hearts of millions of readers. With its diverse animal characters—the hen, the duck, the rooster, the dog, and the weasel—this novel is reminiscent of classic novels in English literature such as Animal Farm and Charlotte’s Web. This first Arabic version of Sun-mi Hwang’s legendary novel, “The Legend of Sun-mi Hwang,” beautifully illustrates the life of an unforgettable figure in world literature.