'Taiwan Travelogue' Wins Award, Sparks Craze; Rights Sold to 24 Countries

According to the Central News Agency, author Yang Shuang-zi's novel 'Taiwan Travelogue' has sparked a craze in Taiwan after winning the International Booker Prize in London, with bookstores and online retailers reporting sell-outs. International rights agents indicate that publishers from many countries have been inquiring about licensing. Before winning the award, the book had already garnered global attention, with rights sold to 24 countries since its 2020 publication in Taiwan. Translations in Japanese, English, Korean, and Finnish have been released. The English version alone has three editions from the US, UK, and Australia, each with unique cover designs. The US edition by Graywolf Press won the National Book Award for Translated Literature, while the UK edition by And Other Stories was crucial for the book's eligibility for the Booker Prize. The Japanese edition, titled 'Two People on a Taiwan Travel Railway,' won the 10th Japan Translation Award.