Books from 11 regions and 10 languages were among the 16 winners of English PEN's translation awards, which are selected "on the basis of outstanding literary quality, the strength of the publishing project, and their contribution to U.K. bibliodiversity." The winners include--for the first time--titles from Cameroon and Singapore, as well as titles translated from Greenlandic and Kannada. Two titles translated from Vietnamese appear in the same list for the first time, as does a book featuring translation from Mixe. Check out the complete list of PEN Translates winners here.
Will Forrester, head of literature programs at English PEN, said: "These 16 awards are selected from our largest round of submissions to date. The breadth, boldness, originality, risk-taking, spirit and quality exhibited across the submissions and award-winners is staggering--and speaks to the thriving state of translated literature publishing. We’re pleased to be a part of bringing these works to English-language readers, and to be able to support these exceptional writers, translators and publishers."
So Mayer, co-chair of English PEN translation advisory group, called the awards, commented: "This round of PEN Translates marks--and is marked by--powerful regional and transnational interconnections.... They showcase the continued invention and ambition of independent publishers and translators, and how the most vivacious and essential current writing is both formally inventive and expansively committed to solidarity."