English PEN has announced the translators shortlisted for PEN Presents: Brazil, the latest round of its programme funding the often-unpaid work of creating samples, giving publishers access to titles from underrepresented languages and regions, and helping diversify the translated literature landscape.
For this round of PEN Presents, in partnership with British Council as part of the UK/Brazil Season of Culture 2025–26, translators based anywhere in the world and working from any of the languages of Brazil were invited to submit proposals to create sample translations of previously untranslated work of any form and genre.
The shortlist – selected by an independent Selection Panel featuring experts from across the sector – features 13 titles from 15 translators, including works of literary fiction, poetry, romance, political satire, and short stories. This is the first time the English PEN translation programme has supported authors and translators of Makuxi and Gaúcha heritage.
The PEN Presents: Brazil shortlist is:
- Natália Affonso for a translation from the Portuguese of Tidal Water by Tatiana Nascimento
- Ashley Brock and Jamille Pinheiro Dias for a translation from the Portuguese of Galileia by Ronaldo Correia de Brito
- Benjamin Brooks for a translation from the Portuguese of Strange Body of Ours by Reginaldo Pujol Filho
- Lúcia Collischonn for a translation from the Portuguese of One Woman, Two Skeletons by Julia Dantas
- Tatiana Fernandes Guedes for a translation from the Portuguese and Makuxi of Makunaimã’s beautiful words by Trudruá Dorrico
- Beth Hickling-Moore for a translation from the Portuguese of Virgínia, Bitten by Jeovanna Vieira
- Gilles Madan and Vânia Gomes for a translation from the Portuguese of Eyes of Water by Conceição Evaristo
- Adrian Minckley for a translation from the Portuguese of The Porno President by Bruna Kalil Othero
- Ryan B. Morrison for a translation from the Portuguese of Corsair in the Desert by Marilene Felinto
- Nina Perrotta for a translation from the Portuguese of The Paediatrician by Andréa del Fuego
- Julia Sanches for a translation from the Portuguese of Mata Doce by Luciany Aparecida
- Elton Uliana for a translation from the Portuguese of Vultures by Carla Bessa
- Emyr Wallace Humphreys for a translation from the Portuguese of The Writer Dies on the Rivershore by Lucas Lazzaretti
So Mayer, Chair of the selection panel and English PEN Translation Advisory Co-chair, said:
From the Sertão and Roraima to Porto Alegre and the Argentinean border, this PEN Presents round spans the extent of Brazil, geographically, culturally and thematically. Black, Indigenous, trans, queer and feminist writers take precedence, with works ranging from a poetry plaquete in Makuxi and Portuguese to a political satire drawing on pornochanchada, via romantic and experimental fiction. The list offers UK publishers a wide range of compelling projects from both garlanded translators and those making their full-length debuts, and a thrilling snapshot of the literary and cultural vitality of reading contemporary Brazil.
Rachel Stevens, Director Literature, British Council, said:
Congratulations to all the writers and translators shortlisted for PEN Presents: Brazil. It’s wonderful to see such a range of genres, as well as writers and translators from across Brazil represented in the shortlist. We’re delighted to be collaborating with English PEN during the UK/Brazil Season of Culture 2025–26 on this round of PEN Presents, which we hope will bring exciting new voices to the attention of international publishers and connect with more readers in the UK and around the world.
Nadia Saeed, Translation and International Manager, English PEN, said:
The literary quality of the submissions for this round of PEN Presents is a testament to the vibrant Brazilian literary scene, and this shortlist is just a snapshot of what we are set to gain. We’re excited to be supporting such a diverse range of projects, especially off the back of the longlisting of Ana Paula Maia’s On Earth as It Is Beneath for the International Booker prize this year. We hope that this round will bring greater visibility to Brazilian literature in translation in UK publishing.
The shortlisted translators each receive £600 grants to create 5,000-word sample translations of their proposed projects. Independent assessors, drawn from English PEN’s pool of established literary translators, are commissioned to evaluate the samples and original works, before the Selection Panel then select six projects as PEN Presents: Brazil winners. The winning translators receive editorial support, working with English PEN, editors and experienced translators on their samples, with the winners announced and the samples published and promoted to UK publishers in Summer 2026.
The UK/Brazil Season of Culture is a year-long celebration that aims to strengthen the relationship between the UK and Brazil through cultural exchange. As part of the Season, PEN Presents: Brazil aims to introduce Anglophone audiences to a broader range of contemporary literature from Brazil, with a particular focus on voices which are underrepresented in the national and international literary landscape. It will develop the capacity of the translation sector and provide opportunities for connections between writers and translators in the UK, Brazil and other countries.