Translating China — Prizes, pressures and prospects for Chinese literature today

The inaugural US-based Baifang Schell Book Prize for Chinese language fiction in English translation was recently awarded to the Taiwanese writer Yang Shuang-zi’s novel 'Taiwan Travelogue'. And with an ever-growing number of Chinese to English translators, and a well-resourced mainland Chinese publishing industry keen to expand globally, this could seem like a significant moment for Chinese writing. But with continuing censorship in China, and the rising popularity of often throwaway internet writing, can mainland Chinese fiction remain relevant and viable, and tackle important contemporary and historical themes? And with heightened tensions between China and the West in the last few years, is there still the same international interest from readers and publishers? Leading translators Jeremy Tiang, himself a published novelist and playwright, and Nicky Harman, founding member of the Chinese literature website Paper Republic, discuss the pressures and prospects for Chinese literature, while Daniel Li of UK-based publisher Sinoist Books reflects on the challenges of navigating between the Chinese and western publishing industries.

Books referred to in the discussion:

• Taiwan Travelogue by Yang Shuang-zi
• Delicious Hunger by Hai Fan
• Diablo’s Boys by Yang Hao
• Old Kiln by Jia Pingwa
• Cocoon by Zhang Yueran

________________________________________

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and are not necessarily those of the SOAS China Institute.
________________________________________

SOAS China Institute (SCI)

• SCI Blog
• SCI on X
• SCI on LinkedIn
• SCI on Facebook
• SCI on Instagram

________________________________________

Music credit: Sappheiros / CC BY 3.0