Novel by Taiwanese author Tung Wei-ge shortlisted for Czech prize

Prague, May 25 (CNA) A Czech translation of "Northwest Rain" (西北雨), a novel by Taiwanese author Tung Wei-ge (童偉格), has been shortlisted for the 2024 Josef Jungmann Prize, according to the Czech Literary Translators' Guild (CLTG).

The novel is one of 25 selected from nearly 90 entries in 24 languages, with "Northwest Rain" being the only Chinese-language work on the list, according to the CLTG, which announced the nomination on May 14.

The Josef Jungmann Prize, established in 1991 and named after Czech linguist and translator Josef Jungmann, is regarded as the country's most prestigious literary translation award, the guild said.

It is presented annually for the best translation into Czech from a foreign language, with this year's winner to be announced on Sept. 30, International Translation Day, the CLTG said.

Mí:Lù Publishing founder Tomáš Řízek said the nomination was a major honor and praised the novel's translator Pavlína Krámská for her work.

The original Taiwanese long-form novel "Northwest Rain" employs techniques such as "rewinding, repeating, skipping, and delaying to reassemble fragments about death and family history," according to Taiwan's Ministry of Culture (MOC).

Its author, Tung, was born in 1977 in what is now the Wanli District of New Taipei in northern Taiwan, according to the MOC.

Tung currently teaches at the Taipei National University of the Arts. His fiction often explores themes of death and memory, the MOC said.