Deliverance by James Dickey (in 2001, named as one of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century, as chosen by the editorial board of the Modern Library.)
... until 1875, when they ceded it to Russia. By the Treaty of Portsmouth (U.S.A.) of 1905 the southern part of the island below 50° N was ceded to Japan, the Russians retaining ...