In a recent announcement by thebooksheller.com on July 17, two translated Vietnamese works have made it to the list for the first time. These esteemed works include Water: A Chronicle, published by Major Books, and Elevator in Saigon, published by Tilted Axis Press.
Water: A Chronicle, originally published in Vietnam in 2020, marks the second novel by writer Nguyen Ngoc Tu, following her successful debut River in 2012.
Elevator in Saigon, a captivating tale by French-Vietnamese author Thuan, was first introduced to readers in 2013. The novel garnered critical acclaim, winning the Bourse de Création (creation prize) by the French national book centre in the same year. Thuan has since published numerous novels in both French and Vietnamese, showcasing a diverse range of storytelling.
Ho Chi Minh City-based translator, Nguyen An Ly, has an impressive portfolio, with over 20 translations to her name. She has skillfully rendered works from a diverse range of authors, including Margaret Atwood, Donna Tartt, Kazuo Ishiguro, Richard Flanagan, and J. L. Borges, as well as translating the poetry within “The Lord of the Rings”.
PEN Translates, supported by Arts Council England, was established in 2012 to encourage UK publishers to explore and embrace literature from other languages. The selected books not only exemplify exceptional literary merit but are also chosen based on the strength of their publishing project and the unique contribution they bring to the UK’s bibliodiversity.