Rockwell, the American responsible for the translation of the book published by Tilted Axel, said that since she is superstitious, she did not have a prepared speech and thanked the judges.
The so-called “short list” that was made up of Piñeiro, by the Polish Olga Tokarczuk with “The book of Jacob”, translated by Jennifer Croft; for “A New Name. Septology VI-VII”, by Norwegian director Jon Fosse (by Damion Searls); “Cursed Bunny”, by the Korean Bora Chung, translated by Anton Hur; and “Heaven”, by Japan’s Mieko Kawakami (by Samuel Bett and David Boyd), was selected by a jury made up of author and academic Merve Emre; the writer and lawyer Petina Gappah; writer, comedian and host Viv Groskop; and translator and author Jeremy Tiang.
This is the first time that a translator, Frank Wynne, chaired this body, which this year had a record number of submissions received, with 135 books considered.
“In her novel, Shree has written a protest against the destructive impact of borders. Here, she discusses the importance of a global worldview in literature,” can be read on the website of the prize, whose objective is to encourage more publications and readings quality fiction from around the world and promote the work of translators. For this reason, the award is divided equally between the author and the translator, a monetary gesture that aims to pay attention to the importance of the dialogue between the work and the translation.
Wynne, as president of the jury, called the book “extraordinarily enjoyable” and defined it as “hugely engaging, charming, funny and light, despite the various themes it covers… a perfectly decent beach read for absolutely everyone. world”.
He also said that the jury had had a “passionate debate” when deciding, but that, “when push came to shove”, Shree’s book was chosen “overwhelmingly”.
Regarding Rockwell’s translation work, Wynne noted that it was “stunningly realistic, all the more so as so much of the original relies on Hindi puns, sounds and cadences”.
“Tomb of Sand” is published by independent publisher Tilted Axis Press, which this year earned its first International Booker win and also its first selection and shortlist. The stamp was created by translator Deborah Smith with money she received from the 2016 International Booker Prize for her translation of Han Kang’s novel “The Vegetarian.”
Shree is the author of three novels and books of short stories. “Tomb of Sand” is the first of her books to be published in the UK. Rockwell is a painter, writer, and translator living in Vermont, USA, who has already translated several works of Hindi and Urdu literature.
“Elena Sabe”, the novel in which the writer Claudia Piñeiro addresses motherhood, the vulnerability of old age and the weight of mandates, had been among the finalists and marked the second consecutive year that Argentine authors were included among the nominees. since last year there was Gabriela Cabezón Cámara for “The Adventures Of China Iron” (“The Adventures of China Iron”) and Samanta Schweblin for “Little Eyes”, as her novel “Kentukis” was translated.
Schweblin had already competed in 2019 and 2017 with “Pájaros en la boca” and “Rescue distance” respectively. While in 2018 Ariana Harwicz was selected for her first feature, “Matate amor” and Mariana Enriquez reached the shortlist with “The dangers of smoking in bed”.
Source: Ambito
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