The International Booker Prize celebrates novels or anthologies from around the world and their translations, the latter highlighting the often overlooked work of translators in making important stories accessible to readers around the globe.
On April 7, the shortlist for the 2022 International Booker Prize was announced at the London Book Fair. At the end of May, the panel of esteemed judges, chaired by a translator for the first time in the award's history, will select the winner and present the £50,000 (about RM276,000) prize money divided equally between author and translator.
See also: David Diop's Riveting War Novel Wins International Booker Prize 2021
Below are the shortlisted books that you can read ahead of the final announcement on May 26. Which book will you be rooting for?
1. Cursed Bunny
Author: Bora Chung
Translator: Anton Hur
Original Language: Korean
Grotesque and terrifying, Chung's collection of short stories jump seamlessly from supernatural nightmares to twisted tales involving sentient humanoids or body horror. Through her electrifying storytelling packed with surrealism, fantasy and science-fiction (which translator Hur skilfully captures), she comments on very real issues in modern society, including oppression, cruelties of the patriarchy and the failures of capitalism in practice.