Taiwanese Novel "Taiwan Travelogue" Wins International Booker Prize; Full Speeches from Jury Chair, Author Yang Shuang-tzu, and Translator Lin Chin-ling
The Taiwanese novel "Taiwan Travelogue," written by Yang Shuang-tzu and translated into English by Lin Chin-ling, has won the prestigious International Booker Prize in London. This article provides the full text of the speeches by the chair of the judges, Yang, and Lin. Yang emphasized the connection between literature and politics, dedicating the award to Taiwan's century-long pursuit of freedom. Lin explained her decision to translate only works from Taiwan and how her translation strategies challenge industry norms to present Taiwan's multicultural reality.
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A major event in the English literary world, the annual International Booker Prize, announced its winner in London this evening. The grand prize was awarded to the novel "Taiwan Travelogue," written by Taiwanese author Yang Shuang-tzu and translated into English by Lin Chin-ling.
Below is the full text of the speech from the Chair of the International Booker Prize Judges:
It is my great honor to be here with all of you tonight. First, I want to extend my sincerest thanks to all the writers, translators, and publishing teams here and around the world for bringing us this unforgettable year of reading. As judges, Sophie, Troy, Nela, Marcus, and I have traveled across centuries and continents through your books.
We have spent many hours in passionate discussion, appreciation, debate, and deep gratitude for these stories. It is truly incredible that so many stylistically diverse and masterfully crafted novels have been translated into English in just one year. The International Booker Prize is an award that has enriched my reading life. I believe it is one of the most exciting, respected, and inspiring prizes for English-language readers today. It is a profound honor to have served as a judge for this prize, especially to have read alongside such a distinguished panel of fellow judges. I also want to thank the organizing team who make this award possible year after year.
In an age where nuanced perspectives are scarce, and where empathy, inclusion, and even basic humanity are often seen as weaknesses, I believe books are the antidote. They are like small empathy machines that transmit resonance, crossing not only borders and cultures but also, with the help of translators, breaking through language barriers.
All the works on our longlist and shortlist demonstrate how the power of storytelling connects people, which is worthy of our collective celebration. These works are both delightful and challenging, and deeply engaging. And this year's winning work is a model of a multi-layered, delicate, and brilliant story.
The winner of the 2026 International Booker Prize is "Taiwan Travelogue," written by Yang Shuang-tzu and translated by Lin Chin-ling.
Yang Shuang-tzu's Acceptance Speech:
Hello everyone. Some people believe that art and literature must be kept separate from politics, but I believe that literature cannot be detached from the land where it grows. In this sense, literature has never been inherently separate from politics. Looking back at the history of Taiwanese literature, for a century we have been constantly asking, "What kind of future do the Taiwanese people want?" and "What kind of nation do the Taiwanese people want?" Today, "Taiwan Travelogue" joins this line of inquiry.
Taiwanese people have endured colonial regimes and faced the threat of invasion. In the face of powerful forces with disparate strengths, does literature have power? I have always believed that literature does have power. Literature may seem slow, but its actions are always firm. Literature is usually quiet, yet that does not prevent its beliefs from spreading far and wide. Translation creates a time lag, but it can transcend the limits of time and space. I believe in the power of literature because, in the world of ideas, literature has never given up on holding its own, nor has it given up on dialogue with others.
Thank you to the International Booker Prize, thank you to the book's translator, Lin Chin-ling, and thank you to everyone who has helped me get here. Please allow me to dedicate these concluding remarks to my homeland, Taiwan. The century-long inquiry of Taiwanese literature is, in fact, the Taiwanese people's century-long pursuit of freedom and equality. Being a Taiwanese person is my good fortune, and being able to stand here as a Taiwanese author is my pride. Thank you, everyone.
Lin Chin-ling's Acceptance Speech:
In 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, I made a clear decision: for the foreseeable future, I would no longer indiscriminately translate any Sinophone work, but only works from Taiwan. I will continue to do so until the day my homeland's sovereignty is no longer a provocation or a joke in the English-speaking world, until no one can say to me with a straight face, "I should really go see Taiwan—while it's still there."
In the process of translating "Taiwan Travelogue," I deliberately used many strategies that are unorthodox in the English publishing world. Although it was risky, I saw this work as an experimental challenge to the conventions of the English industry. Generally, the premise of translated literature in English is that the translation, and the translator, are best when they are "invisible." But in this book, there are translator's footnotes, a preface, and an afterword, and three different pronunciation systems for the same written Chinese characters. Compared to the original, the English version demands more from the reader precisely because it refuses to simplify the multilingual, multi-ethnic, and multicultural reality of Taiwan.
For this reason, I initially thought the English version of "Taiwan Travelogue" would only appeal to a small, niche audience. However, since its publication in the US in 2024, it has received a powerful level of attention we never anticipated. The international spotlight has also made this book a prominent and shining example in Taiwan, proving that we can tell Taiwan's stories abroad.
But no single novel should bear the burden of speaking for an entire nation. My hope for myself and my fellow translators is to bring a multitude of voices from Taiwan into the English-speaking world, so that no one can reduce Taiwanese literature to a monolith. We are not a chorus singing in unison, but a cacophony of voices, full of contradiction and unruly spirit—just like any robust democracy.
I want to thank our publishers: Graywolf Press, especially the daring Yuka Igarashi, and our beloved UK publisher, And Other Stories, our home in the UK. The long gap between the US and UK editions was because we couldn't find a UK publisher willing to put the translator's name on the cover, until And Other Stories stepped up.
In the US, orange juice is labeled "no pulp" or "with pulp." I learned a few days ago that in the UK, it's divided into "smooth" or "with juicy bits." I hope we can start thinking of translation not just as "pulp," but as "juicy bits," and proudly label it on the package.
Finally, thank you to the International Booker Prize for amplifying diverse voices and expanding literary horizons. Happy 10th anniversary!
Below is the full text of the speech from the Chair of the International Booker Prize Judges:
It is my great honor to be here with all of you tonight. First, I want to extend my sincerest thanks to all the writers, translators, and publishing teams here and around the world for bringing us this unforgettable year of reading. As judges, Sophie, Troy, Nela, Marcus, and I have traveled across centuries and continents through your books.
We have spent many hours in passionate discussion, appreciation, debate, and deep gratitude for these stories. It is truly incredible that so many stylistically diverse and masterfully crafted novels have been translated into English in just one year. The International Booker Prize is an award that has enriched my reading life. I believe it is one of the most exciting, respected, and inspiring prizes for English-language readers today. It is a profound honor to have served as a judge for this prize, especially to have read alongside such a distinguished panel of fellow judges. I also want to thank the organizing team who make this award possible year after year.
In an age where nuanced perspectives are scarce, and where empathy, inclusion, and even basic humanity are often seen as weaknesses, I believe books are the antidote. They are like small empathy machines that transmit resonance, crossing not only borders and cultures but also, with the help of translators, breaking through language barriers.
All the works on our longlist and shortlist demonstrate how the power of storytelling connects people, which is worthy of our collective celebration. These works are both delightful and challenging, and deeply engaging. And this year's winning work is a model of a multi-layered, delicate, and brilliant story.
The winner of the 2026 International Booker Prize is "Taiwan Travelogue," written by Yang Shuang-tzu and translated by Lin Chin-ling.
Yang Shuang-tzu's Acceptance Speech:
Hello everyone. Some people believe that art and literature must be kept separate from politics, but I believe that literature cannot be detached from the land where it grows. In this sense, literature has never been inherently separate from politics. Looking back at the history of Taiwanese literature, for a century we have been constantly asking, "What kind of future do the Taiwanese people want?" and "What kind of nation do the Taiwanese people want?" Today, "Taiwan Travelogue" joins this line of inquiry.
Taiwanese people have endured colonial regimes and faced the threat of invasion. In the face of powerful forces with disparate strengths, does literature have power? I have always believed that literature does have power. Literature may seem slow, but its actions are always firm. Literature is usually quiet, yet that does not prevent its beliefs from spreading far and wide. Translation creates a time lag, but it can transcend the limits of time and space. I believe in the power of literature because, in the world of ideas, literature has never given up on holding its own, nor has it given up on dialogue with others.
Thank you to the International Booker Prize, thank you to the book's translator, Lin Chin-ling, and thank you to everyone who has helped me get here. Please allow me to dedicate these concluding remarks to my homeland, Taiwan. The century-long inquiry of Taiwanese literature is, in fact, the Taiwanese people's century-long pursuit of freedom and equality. Being a Taiwanese person is my good fortune, and being able to stand here as a Taiwanese author is my pride. Thank you, everyone.
Lin Chin-ling's Acceptance Speech:
In 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, I made a clear decision: for the foreseeable future, I would no longer indiscriminately translate any Sinophone work, but only works from Taiwan. I will continue to do so until the day my homeland's sovereignty is no longer a provocation or a joke in the English-speaking world, until no one can say to me with a straight face, "I should really go see Taiwan—while it's still there."
In the process of translating "Taiwan Travelogue," I deliberately used many strategies that are unorthodox in the English publishing world. Although it was risky, I saw this work as an experimental challenge to the conventions of the English industry. Generally, the premise of translated literature in English is that the translation, and the translator, are best when they are "invisible." But in this book, there are translator's footnotes, a preface, and an afterword, and three different pronunciation systems for the same written Chinese characters. Compared to the original, the English version demands more from the reader precisely because it refuses to simplify the multilingual, multi-ethnic, and multicultural reality of Taiwan.
For this reason, I initially thought the English version of "Taiwan Travelogue" would only appeal to a small, niche audience. However, since its publication in the US in 2024, it has received a powerful level of attention we never anticipated. The international spotlight has also made this book a prominent and shining example in Taiwan, proving that we can tell Taiwan's stories abroad.
But no single novel should bear the burden of speaking for an entire nation. My hope for myself and my fellow translators is to bring a multitude of voices from Taiwan into the English-speaking world, so that no one can reduce Taiwanese literature to a monolith. We are not a chorus singing in unison, but a cacophony of voices, full of contradiction and unruly spirit—just like any robust democracy.
I want to thank our publishers: Graywolf Press, especially the daring Yuka Igarashi, and our beloved UK publisher, And Other Stories, our home in the UK. The long gap between the US and UK editions was because we couldn't find a UK publisher willing to put the translator's name on the cover, until And Other Stories stepped up.
In the US, orange juice is labeled "no pulp" or "with pulp." I learned a few days ago that in the UK, it's divided into "smooth" or "with juicy bits." I hope we can start thinking of translation not just as "pulp," but as "juicy bits," and proudly label it on the package.
Finally, thank you to the International Booker Prize for amplifying diverse voices and expanding literary horizons. Happy 10th anniversary!