The shortlist for the International Booker Prize 2024 has been revealed, with a mix of literary gems from around the world. Chosen from a pool of 149 titles published in the UK and/or Ireland between May 1, 2023, and April 30, 2024, these six works, translated from six languages, promise to captivate readers with their exploration of both the personal and the political.
The esteemed judging panel, led by renowned writer and broadcaster Eleanor Wachtel, unveiled the shortlist, highlighting the diversity and originality of the selected works. Joining Wachtel were award-winning poet Natalie Diaz, Booker Prize-shortlisted novelist Romesh Gunesekera, ground-breaking visual artist William Kentridge, and writer, editor, and translator Aaron Robertson.
This year’s shortlist represents a collection of voices, with authors and translators hailing from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden. The selection spans three continents, offering readers a rich range of perspectives and experiences.
The chair of judges, Eleanor Wachtel, remarked on the optimism inherent in the shortlist, despite its engagement with pressing issues such as racism, oppression, global violence, and ecological disaster. She emphasised the profound impact of these works on helping readers make sense of the complexities of the modern world.
Fiammetta Rocco, Administrator of the International Booker Prize, highlighted the thematic breadth of the shortlisted books, noting their exploration of divided families and societies as well as their examination of both recent and distant pasts.
Among the authors and translators, the shortlist boasts a gender-diverse lineup, with nine women and four men represented. Noteworthy inclusions are debut novelist Itamar Viera Junior and prolific author Hwang Sok-yong, whose ninth translated work earns him a place on the shortlist.
Several countries on the shortlist have a strong pedigree for the International Booker Prize, with South Korea making its third consecutive appearance and Argentina securing its fourth nomination in five years. The shortlist also welcomes previously longlisted authors Hwang Sok-yong and Jenny Erpenbeck, alongside translator Sora Kim-Russell, marking their first advancement to the shortlist.
In a nod to the growing influence of independent publishers, five of the shortlisted books are published by indies, including two titles from Scribe UK. This trend shows the ongoing success of independent presses, which have claimed victory in the prize six times out of eight since 2016.
This year’s International Booker Prize 2024 ceremony is set to take place on Tuesday, May 21, at London’s iconic Tate Modern. The event will be livestreamed, offering audiences worldwide the opportunity to witness the announcement of the winning book and celebrate the power of international literature.
