A landmark moment for Asian literature and translated fiction, Taiwan Travelogue has won the prestigious International Booker Prize, becoming the first novel translated from Mandarin Chinese to receive the globally acclaimed honour.
Written by celebrated Taiwanese author Yang Shuang-zi and translated into English by Taiwanese-American translator Lin King, the novel presents a deeply emotional and culturally rich story set in 1930s Taiwan during the period of Japanese colonial rule.
The novel follows the journey of a fictional Japanese writer, Aoyama Chizuko, who travels across Taiwan on a government-sponsored cultural tour accompanied by a Taiwanese interpreter, O Chizuru. As the two women explore Taiwan’s diverse culinary traditions and landscapes, their relationship gradually develops into a forbidden love story layered with themes of identity, colonialism, cultural conflict, and emotional resistance.
One of the most unique features of the novel is its creative literary structure. The book is framed as the “translation” of a rediscovered historical travel memoir, complete with fictional annotations and footnotes. When it was first published in 2020, many readers reportedly believed the text to be an authentic historical document.
Chair of the Booker Prize judging panel, Natasha Brown, described the work as “a captivating, slyly sophisticated novel,” praising its layered storytelling and emotional depth.
Speaking before the award announcement, author Yang Shuang-zi humorously reflected on her research process, stating that studying Taiwan’s food culture for the novel had two clear effects on her life: “My savings went down; my weight went up.”
The recognition of Taiwan Travelogue marks a major achievement for Taiwanese literature and highlights the growing international appreciation for translated Asian literary works. Literary critics worldwide have praised the novel for its poetic narrative style, historical insight, and sensitive portrayal of human relationships amid political and cultural tension.
The International Booker Prize is one of the world’s most respected literary awards, celebrating outstanding fiction translated into English and promoting global literary exchange.
