Local translator on Voices of Today Literary Translation Prize
Brisbane-based translator Jenny Lu has been shortlisted for the inaugural Voices of Today Literary Translation Prize.
Participants were invited to translate a substantial excerpt from the novel Salty Jokes by Liu Zhenyun (People’s Literature Publishing House) from Chinese to English, with the prize attracting over 100 entries from 14 countries.
The shortlisted translators are:
- Jenny Lu (Australia)
- Christopher MacDonald (UK)
- Andrew Rule (US)
- Alex Woodend (US)
- Alexis Wu (US/UK)
- Yaqi Xi (UK)
- Yee Heng Yeh (Malaysia).
Judging panel chair Nicky Harman said, “The text chosen, taken from a novel by one of China’s best-loved authors, Liu Zhenyun, was challenging, with its highly individual authorial voice, its sprightly rhythm and use of dialect, and its lines of classical poetry. But this year’s entrants rose to the challenge: the standard of entries was gratifyingly high and it was clear to us judges how much care had been taken to deliver texts that not only reflected the multi-layered content but recreated the voice of the author in English. In short, the Voices of Today Prize has succeeded in showcasing some remarkable new talent.”
Created and administered by consultancy Singing Grass, the Voices of Today Literary Translation Prize aims to “connect contemporary literary output from China with the rest of the world while showcasing the wealth of a new generation of literary translators from Chinese to English”.
The winner will be announced at the Beijing International Book Fair on 18 June 2026.
Category: Awards Local news
