The books are:
- Swallowing Mercury by Wioletta Greg, translated by Eliza Marciniak (Portobello Books)
- The Traitor’s Niche by Ismail Kadare, translated by John Hodgson (Harvill Secker)
- Black Moses by Alain Mabanckou, translated by Helen Stevenson (Serpent’s Tail)
- Bricks and Mortar by Clemens Meyer, translated by Katy Derbyshire (Fitzcarraldo Editions)
The PEN Translates programme is funded by Arts Council England and awards funds to publishers to cover translation costs. English PEN’s Translation Committee, which includes professionals from across the publishing industry, selects more than 30 titles a year for financial assistance.
Samantha Schnee, English PEN deputy president and former chair of PEN’s Writers in Translation Committee, said:
We are so pleased to learn that the Man Booker International Prize has recognised a number of PEN-supported titles in this year’s long list. As the English PEN grants programme enters its second decade, the value of reading writers from other countries and cultures is higher than ever. In a market that can be overwhelming, the PEN grants are an indicator of high quality.