Books from 17 regions and 13 languages are among the 19 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--a title from Somaliland.
Nichola Smalley, English PEN translation advisory co-chair and chair of the PEN Translates selection panel, said: "We're thrilled to see such a diversity of voices coming through the PEN Translates project, with strong applications and innovative thinking from so many publishers, big and small. The awarded titles are evidence of the continued vitality of the translation sector, and it was a privilege to be party to the considered and in-depth deliberations of the selection panel."
Preti Taneja, co-chair of the English PEN Translation advisory group and chair of the PEN Translates x SALT selection panel, commented: "We are delighted to support two such different but equally vital projects--vital in the sense of their contribution to literature in translation and to bibliodiversity, and in the perfect match of project with publisher. Anglophone readers will be enriched and inspired by these works for generations to come."
Nadia Saeed, translation and international manager at English PEN, added that the winning titles "show the continued resilience of literature in translation amid international and sectorial shifts. The standard of this round is testament to the commitment of publishers--particularly of independent presses--to bringing works into translation that challenge and engage readers across linguistic borders. From graphic novels to non-fiction reportage, from themes such as the environmental crisis to the legacy of conflict, we're delighted to be supporting such a fantastic range of titles."