The Man Booker International Prize 2018 Longlist

Hello Gentle Reader

According to reports translated works of literature in two-thousand and eighteen, are significantly lower than the previous two years. The rationale and statistical analysis is unknown. Part of the problem could be translating works of literature takes time, from moving a narrative or a poem from one language to another one, with respect to the original work, while also ensuring it can be read and understood in its adopted literary language. Translators are after all linguistic acrobats who flip and spin and dazzle, while making sure the entire exercise is smooth and graceful, while giving off the impression that the entire act is easy and effortless. Another reason perhaps for the slow decline in translations, is the market is niche and quiet. The average reader who enters a book store, or shops online, will be more comfortable and inclined in staying in their reading habits and parameters—whatever they maybe. For some it’s a good story, cheap prose, and a throw away book; other enjoy long winding soap operatic series, that they can continue the saga in, as they are already emotionally invested in the characters’ lives; others prefer the company of escapism, be into fantastical worlds or far flung planets in space. Perhaps in the previous two years, the publishers who published such a wonderful excess of translated fiction found the market not quite to their business inclinations, and have halted the publication of new translated works due to the feeling that it’s a bad investment. Let’s be honest and face the harsh reality: publishing is a business, and is inclined to make a profit. Still after such great strides forward in the previous two-years, it would be sad to think that two-thousand and eighteen is the tipping point of translation success, and everything moving forward is a slow decline.

Now its third run, the Man Booker International Prize happily moves the focus away from the sour thought of translated fiction falling to the wayside once again, as it presents this year’s longlist of translated novels and writers. The longlist is riddled with talent and unique narratives and perspectives.

This year’s Man Booker International Prize longlist is as follows:

Olga Tokarczuk – Poland – “Flights,”

Christoph Ransmayr – Austria – “The Flying Mountain,”

Wu Ming-Yi – Taiwan – “The Stolen Bicycle,”

Jenny Erpenbeck – Germany – “Go, Went, Gone,”

Javier Cercas – Spain – “The Imposter,”

Virginie Despentes – France – “Vernon Subtext 1,”

Antonio Muñoz Molina – Spain – “Like a Fading Shadow,”

Ahmed Saadawi – Iraq – “Frankenstein in Baghdad,”

Gabriela Ybarra – Spain – “The Dinner Guest,”

Laurent Binet – France – “The 7th Function of Language,”

Sarah Moses – Argentina – “Die, My Love,”

Han Kang – (South) Korea – “The White Book,”

László Krasznahorkai – Hungary – “The World Goes On,”

There you have it Gentle Reader, the thirteen books longlisted for this year’s Man Booker International Prize. Looking at the longlist, the Spanish language is well represented with four authors and four works of fiction represented on the longlist. Behind the Spanish language, French and German have two authors representing the respective languages. The remaining five authors come from a diverse linguistic backgrounds, and geopolitical areas. On the longlist there are two writers who have won the award prior: the Hungarian writer László Krasznahorkai, and the (South) Korean writer Han Kang. Both writes have also made great reputations for themselves in the English language.

László Krasznahorkai, has been a favourite among the youthful and rebellious intellectuals and readers, who take great delight in his cerebral and postmodern apocalyptic narratives. “The World Goes On,” is not novel, but a collection of short stories. Yet, do not be mistaken, in the hands of László Krasznahorkai, the short story form is taken into a completely exhilarating and experimental direction. Compromised of eleven short stories, told by a elusive and ever present narrator who pushes the reader to see the oddities, beauties, and great strangeness of the world. It has the distinct flare of Laszlo Krasznahorkai where madness and obsession threaten to break free from the page and consume the reader. A guaranteed frighteningly and rewarding read for those who enjoy being drawn close to the annihilating thought of the abyss.

Han Kang has made great splashes on the literary scene since her debut only a few years prior. Her novels “The Vegetarian,” and “Human Acts,” are noted for their surreal and visceral depictions of cruelty and misunderstandings among individuals. Her work is noted for its emotional and raw intensity as it explores the human heart and psyche. Her longlisted novel “The White Book,” is a testament to these established themes, but is also a personal mediation on the writer’s baby sister who died only two hours after being born. The novel is described as her most personal work to date, but also her most experimental.

Of the authors on the longlist, I have only read one book: “Flights,” by Olga Tokarczuk; and sincerely hope it makes it to the shortlist. The novel is a unique format, riddled with personal essay, thoughts, stories, and anecdotes; it is both thought provoking, philosophical and enjoyable. Though, I slightly wonder and am curious about other writers who should have also been included on the longlist, such as the late Antonio Tabucchi with “Isabell: A Mandela,” or Fleur Jaeggy with “I am the Brother of XX,” or Bae Suah with “Recitation.” I sometimes wonder with peculiar uncertainty, if the Man Booker International Prize has made itself accessible for a diverse group of publishers to nominate and submit their publications for review and consideration with the award. I sincerely believe, the Man Booker International Prize is a capable prize which can encourage translations, and the publication of translated literature. I just wonder if it too suffers from myopia, as its parent prize the Booker Prize does.

For now though Gentle Reader, we can mull over the longlist and wonder who will make it to the shortlist, and who we wish to pick out and read of the works listed.

Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader

Take Care

And As Always

Stay Well Read

M. Mary