North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il has died, leaving behind a secretive and troubled legacy in his Communist country. Over the course of his life, the dictator published a number of books, including the literary guide, Life and Literature.

Here is an excerpt: “The essence of literature which distinguishes it from other branches of sociology in dealing with the same people consists in showing them clearly, as they are in real life, rather than dealing with people and their social relations in an unrealistic way. Literature must show people as they are. People are always specific in their thinking, feelings, will and actions and they really exist. Literary images of people, therefore, should always be firm and clear just as living people are. If a literary description of a revolutionary were only to show his political conviction and strong will, and not his rich mental world as expressed in the actual context of life, how dull his portrait would be!”

Follow this link to download a free eBook edition of the book. For more free digital books, check out eBookNewser’s Free eBook of the Day archive. You can also watch clips from Jong-Il’s monster movie over at io9.