By Dennis Abrams
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, as well as novels from Australia, Ireland, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA.
The IMPAC DUBLIN Award, an initiative of Dublin City Council, is worth 100,000 Euros to the winner and is the world’s most valuable 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, Harvill Secker
Questions of Travel by Michelle De Kretser (Sri Lankan/Australian), Allen & Unwin
Absolution by Patrick Flanery (American) (First novel), Atlantic Books
A Death in the Family by Karl Ove Knausgaard (Norwegian), translated by Don Bartlett, Harvill Secker
Three Strong Women by Marie NDiaye (French), translated by John Fletcher, MacLehose/Quercus and by Alfred A. Knopf
Traveller of the Century by Andres Neuman (Argentinean), translated from the original Spanish by Nick Caistor and Lorenza Garcia, Pushkin Press and Farrar, Straus & Giroux
The Light of Amsterdam by David Park (Northern Irish), Bloomsbury
The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan (Irish) (First novel), Doubleday Ireland/Lilliput Press
The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng (Malaysian), Myrmidon.
The Sound of Things Falling by Juan Gabriel Vasquez (Colombian), translated from the original Spanish by Anne McLean, Bloomsbury
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, Columbia 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.”
A total of 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.
“The Award is just one 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 favorites between now and 12th June, when The Lord Mayor announces the winner here in Dublin.”
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, Oisin Quinn on Thursday, June 12th.