5 novels in translation make the IMPAC Dublin Award truly international
Ten novels have been shortlisted for the 2014 International IMPAC DUBLIN Literary Award, managed by Dublin City Libraries.
The list includes five novels in translation from Argentina, Colombia, France, Norway, and The Netherlands and novels from Australia, Ireland, Malaysia, the UK and the USA.
The IMPAC DUBLIN Award, an initiative of Dublin City Council, is worth €100,000 to the winner and is the world’s most valuable annual literary award for a single work of fiction published in English.
The shortlisted titles, announced by The Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin Councillor Henry Upton, in Dublin are:
- The Detour by Gerbrand Bakker, (Dutch) translated by David Colmer. Published by Harvill Secker.
- Questions of Travel by Michelle De Kretser (Sri Lankan / Australian) Published by Allen & Unwin.
- Absolution by Patrick Flanery (American) (First novel) Published by Atlantic Books.
- A Death in the Family by Karl Ove Knausgaard (Norwegian) Translated by Don Bartlett. Published by Harvill Secker.
- Three Strong Women by Marie NDiaye (French) Translated by John Fletcher. Published by MacLehose / Quercus and by Alfred A. Knopf.
- Traveller of the Century by Andrés Neuman (Argentinian) Translated from the original Spanish by Nick Caistor and Lorenza Garcia. Published by Pushkin Press and by Farrar, Straus & Giroux.
- The Light of Amsterdam by David Park (Northern Irish) Published by Bloomsbury.
- The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan (Irish) (First novel) Published by Doubleday Ireland / Lilliput Press.
- The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng (Malaysian) Published by Myrmidon.
- The Sound of Things Falling by Juan Gabriel Vásquez (Colombian) Translated from the original Spanish by Anne McLean. Published by Bloomsbury.
*Download the press release.* (PDF)
Speaking at the announcement Margaret Hayes, Dublin City Librarian, remarked:
This is a truly global shortlist. Stories imagined and inspired by authors and themes from countries as far apart as Australia and Malaysia on the one side of the globe and Argentina, Colombia and the USA on the other, with an eclectic selection of European titles in the middle. Five stories are told in translation from Dutch, French, Norwegian and Spanish.
In all 110 library systems in 39 countries world wide participated in nominating books for the 2014 award.
Dublin’s Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Henry Upton also spoke, saying:
This is a list of high quality literature that includes five novels in translation – that is the beauty of this award – readers around the world will find authors both familiar and new on what is a truly international shortlist.
This Award is just of the many annual events that earned Dublin its UNESCO City of Literature status. Readers throughout the world have plenty of time to pick their own favourites between now and 12th June, when The Lord Mayor announces the winner here in Dublin.
The titles on this year’s shortlist were nominated by public libraries in Australia, Croatia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, South Africa and The Netherlands.
The five member international judging panel, chaired by Hon. Eugene R. Sullivan, will select one winner which will be announced by the Lord Mayor of Dublin and Patron of the Award, Oisín Quinn on Thursday 12th June in a morning announcement.