A decade-old, 800-page book has recently resurfaced as a bestseller in South Korea, rapidly selling out, all thanks to a glowing recommendation from actress Han So Hee.

On December 4, the publishing industry reported that Fernando Pessoa's essay collection, 'The Book of Disquiet,' is currently witnessing a surge in demand and grappling with scarcity. With the book quickly selling out on popular platforms like Aladin and Yes24, it is now being offered through pre-orders.

The book gained significant attention when actress Han So Hee revealed in a magazine interview at the end of last month, "I've been engrossed in reading 'The Book of Disquiet,' this substantial volume, for quite some time." Spring Day Books, the publisher of the Korean translated version, disclosed that following the interview's release, hundreds of copies were rapidly depleted, necessitating an urgent reprint.

'The Book of Disquiet,' an essay collection by Pessoa, a highly esteemed Portuguese poet, encompasses approximately 480 pieces of writing. These range from shorter compositions of 2 to 3 pages to more extensive ones with up to 20 pages. Another Korean publisher introduced it as "The Book of Anxiety." The local version, published by Spring Day Books, is renowned for its polished prose, credited to the translation by novelist Bae Sua.

In her introduction to 'The Book of Disquiet,' Han So Hee shared, "There's a poignant quote in the book asserting that all emotions, except those experienced during a 24-hour sleep, are rooted in anxiety." She emphasized, "Anxiety is akin to a delicate sheet of paper, underscoring the importance of diligently addressing today's anxieties promptly and tomorrow's anxieties on the morrow, preventing their accumulation layer by layer."