Six books, ranging from stories of exile and political upheaval to historical fiction and psychological narratives, have been shortlisted for this year’s International Booker Prize, one of the most prominent awards for fiction translated into English.
Among them are a novel tracing an Iranian family’s journey from the 1979 revolution to life in exile, a story set in a brutal penal colony, and a tale of a woman in the Albanian mountains who lives as a man.
Announcing the shortlist, Natasha Brown, chair of this year’s judging panel, said the selected books contain “hope, insight and burning humanity”.
“While there’s heartbreak, brutality and isolation among these stories, their lasting effect is energising,” she added.
Timely themes and critical attention
One of the most topical titles, given current developments involving Iran, is The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar, translated from German by Ruth Martin. The novel follows a family from communist activism during the revolution to witnessing more recent protests in Tehran from abroad. Although it has received limited coverage in American and British media, it was described by Australian critic Rhoda Kwan as “a testament to how hope and the revolutionary spirit endure in the face of crushing tyranny”.
High-profile entries
Among the best-known shortlisted works is The Director by Daniel Kehlmann, translated by Ross Benjamin. The novel, which was included in The New York Times list of the 10 Best Books of 2025, centres on filmmaker G.W. Pabst, whose career spanned Hollywood and Nazi-controlled Austria. Other critically acclaimed titles include:
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On Earth As It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, translated by Padma Viswanathan, set in a penal colony where a ruthless warden hunts prisoners
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Taiwan Travelogue by Yang Shuang-zi, translated by Lin King, following a Japanese novelist travelling through 1930s Taiwan
Anticipated release and returning author
Also shortlisted is The Witch by Marie NDiaye, translated by Jordan Stump. Originally published in France around 30 years ago and due for release in the United States on April 7, the novel focuses on a mediocre sorceress attempting to teach her daughters witchcraft. NDiaye, one of France’s leading novelists, was previously shortlisted for the prize in 2013, when it recognised an author’s overall body of work rather than a single title.
Since 2016, the International Booker Prize has been awarded to a single book translated into English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland within the previous year. The prize is worth £50,000, shared equally between the author and the translator. This year’s winner will be announced on May 19 at a ceremony at Tate Modern in London. Past winners include David Grossman (A Horse Walks into a Bar), Olga Tokarczuk (Flights) and Han Kang (The Vegetarian).
The full shortlist
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The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar, translated by Ruth Martin
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She Who Remains by Rene Karabash, translated by Izidora Angel
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The Director by Daniel Kehlmann, translated by Ross Benjamin
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On Earth As It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, translated by Padma Viswanathan
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The Witch by Marie NDiaye, translated by Jordan Stump
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Taiwan Travelogue by Yang Shuang-zi, translated by Lin King
Source: The New York Times