The novel Tomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree is one of 13 works from around the world longlisted for the International Booker Prize, which was announced in London on Thursday. It is the first Hindi-language work of fiction to earn a spot in the esteemed literary prize.
Shree's book, which has been translated into English by Daisy Rockwell and has been hailed as "loud and irresistible" by the judges, will compete for the GBP 50,000 prize, which will be split equally between the author and translator. In addition, for the first time in 2022, each of the selected authors and translators will earn GBP 2,500, an increase from GBP 1,000 in prior years, bringing the prize's total worth to GBP 80,000.
About The Author
Shree, who was born in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, is the author of three novels and several short story collections, with her work having been translated into English, French, German, Serbian and Korean.
The 64-year-old novelist from New Delhi has won and been nominated for many honours and scholarships. One of her first books to be published in the UK is Tomb of Sand. Reportedly, Tomb of Sand was initially published in Hindi in 2018 under the title "Ret Samadhi". The English Pen Award was given to this book as well.
About the Translator
Daisy Rockwell, her translator, is a Vermont-based painter, writer and translator who has translated a number of classic Hindi and Urdu writings.
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The novel is set in northern India, and it tells the story of an 80-year-old woman who falls into severe despair after her husband dies, then emerges with a new lease of life. She insists on going to Pakistan, much to her family's sorrow, in order to confront the unresolved anguish of her teenage partition memories while also re-evaluating what it means to be a mother, a daughter, a woman, and a feminist.
About The Jury
Frank Wynne, an Irish literary translator from French and Spanish, chairs the jury. The judging panel comprises of Merve Emre, an Associate Professor of English Literature at Oxford, Zimbabwean lawyer and writer Petina Gappah, translator and novelist Jeremy Tiang, and Viv Groskop, a writer, critic, broadcaster, and stand-up comedian, who will comprise the jury.
International Booker Prize
For those who are unfamiliar, the International Booker Prize is one of the most prestigious honours in translated literature, honouring both the author and the translator for their outstanding translation work. The six-book shortlist will be revealed on April 7, and the winner will be announced on May 26.
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