'Taiwan Travelogue' Wins International Booker Prize; 'Ingenious and Fascinating,' Says Jury Chair
Taiwanese author Yang Shuang-zi's novel 'Taiwan Travelogue' and its English translator Chin Ling won the International Booker Prize in London on May 19. Jury Chair Natasha Brown praised the novel, set in 1930s Japanese-ruled Taiwan, as an ingenious and fascinating post-colonial work that masterfully explores the relationship between love and power. This is the first time a Taiwanese literary work, author, and translator have received this honor, setting a historic precedent.
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A novel from Taiwan, 'Taiwan Travelogue', won the major international literary award, the International Booker Prize, in London today. The chair of the judging panel, novelist Natasha Brown, described 'Taiwan Travelogue' as a "fascinating, subtle, yet ingenious novel."
The International Booker Prize award ceremony was held this evening at the Tate Modern in London. Natasha Brown, a highly acclaimed author in the English-speaking world, announced the winner and personally presented the awards. 'Taiwan Travelogue's' author, Yang Shuang-zi, and its English translator, Chin Ling, each received a trophy.
This is the first time a Taiwanese literary work, author, and translator have been awarded the International Booker Prize, marking several historic firsts for both Taiwanese literature and the prize itself.
According to information provided by the Booker Prize Foundation, Natasha Brown wrote in her comments that 'Taiwan Travelogue', set in 1930s Japanese-colonial-era Taiwan, delicately and subtly explores the question, "Can love overcome power imbalances?"
Brown, who often explores themes of power, ethnicity, and politics in her own work, went on to outline the plot of 'Taiwan Travelogue'. She mentioned the two female protagonists, the fictional Japanese writer Chizuko Aoyama and the Taiwanese interpreter Chizuru Wang, who share an immediate spark upon meeting. However, the power dynamics implicit in their rapidly intensifying friendship ultimately prove difficult to navigate.
Chizuru is an enigma: so charming, yet so bewildering. Aoyama tries everything to penetrate the professional facade Chizuru has carefully constructed, but Chizuru resists to the end.
Regarding the use and translation of language, Brown noted that 'Taiwan Travelogue' does not shy away from the complex issues (whether real or imagined) it might encounter when being translated into the English-speaking world.
'Taiwan Travelogue' employs traditional textual elements such as an introduction, notes, and an afterword to wrap its core love story in an engaging metafictional structure. Chin Ling's masterful translation perfectly conveys the delicate layers of the novel's multiple narrative voices.
Brown stated, "'Taiwan Travelogue' is both a successful love story and a sharp post-colonial novel." The judges greatly enjoyed the rich discussions sparked by the work's multiple layers. "It is a fascinating, subtle, yet ingenious novel."
Gaby Wood, Chief Executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, revealed that the five-person judging panel, including the chair, read each shortlisted work at least three times. After several rounds of discussion, the creative, witty, clever, yet profoundly rich 'Taiwan Travelogue' won over both the hearts and minds of the judges.
The International Booker Prize honors works of fiction. To be eligible, works must be translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland as either a novel or a short story collection. After its publication in Taiwan in 2020, 'Taiwan Travelogue' has been translated into Japanese, English, Korean, and Finnish, with rights sold in a total of 24 countries to date.
The International Booker Prize award ceremony was held this evening at the Tate Modern in London. Natasha Brown, a highly acclaimed author in the English-speaking world, announced the winner and personally presented the awards. 'Taiwan Travelogue's' author, Yang Shuang-zi, and its English translator, Chin Ling, each received a trophy.
This is the first time a Taiwanese literary work, author, and translator have been awarded the International Booker Prize, marking several historic firsts for both Taiwanese literature and the prize itself.
According to information provided by the Booker Prize Foundation, Natasha Brown wrote in her comments that 'Taiwan Travelogue', set in 1930s Japanese-colonial-era Taiwan, delicately and subtly explores the question, "Can love overcome power imbalances?"
Brown, who often explores themes of power, ethnicity, and politics in her own work, went on to outline the plot of 'Taiwan Travelogue'. She mentioned the two female protagonists, the fictional Japanese writer Chizuko Aoyama and the Taiwanese interpreter Chizuru Wang, who share an immediate spark upon meeting. However, the power dynamics implicit in their rapidly intensifying friendship ultimately prove difficult to navigate.
Chizuru is an enigma: so charming, yet so bewildering. Aoyama tries everything to penetrate the professional facade Chizuru has carefully constructed, but Chizuru resists to the end.
Regarding the use and translation of language, Brown noted that 'Taiwan Travelogue' does not shy away from the complex issues (whether real or imagined) it might encounter when being translated into the English-speaking world.
'Taiwan Travelogue' employs traditional textual elements such as an introduction, notes, and an afterword to wrap its core love story in an engaging metafictional structure. Chin Ling's masterful translation perfectly conveys the delicate layers of the novel's multiple narrative voices.
Brown stated, "'Taiwan Travelogue' is both a successful love story and a sharp post-colonial novel." The judges greatly enjoyed the rich discussions sparked by the work's multiple layers. "It is a fascinating, subtle, yet ingenious novel."
Gaby Wood, Chief Executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, revealed that the five-person judging panel, including the chair, read each shortlisted work at least three times. After several rounds of discussion, the creative, witty, clever, yet profoundly rich 'Taiwan Travelogue' won over both the hearts and minds of the judges.
The International Booker Prize honors works of fiction. To be eligible, works must be translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland as either a novel or a short story collection. After its publication in Taiwan in 2020, 'Taiwan Travelogue' has been translated into Japanese, English, Korean, and Finnish, with rights sold in a total of 24 countries to date.