The International Booker Prize has unveiled its 2025 longlist, featuring 13 outstanding works that highlight the richness and diversity of contemporary world literature. Notably, all 13 authors are first-time nominees, underscoring the prize's commitment to recognizing emerging voices in fiction.
Diverse Languages and Cultures Represented
This year's longlist showcases works translated from 10 languages, including inaugural nominations for translations from Kannada and Romanian. The selection comprises 11 novels and two short story collections, reflecting a wide array of storytelling traditions and cultural perspectives.
Highlighted Longlisted Works
- "The Book of Disappearance" by Ibtisam Azem, translated from Arabic by Sinan Antoon (Syracuse University Press): A profound narrative exploring themes of memory and identity.
- "Solenoid" by Mircea Cărtărescu, translated from Romanian by Sean Cotter (Deep Vellum): A surreal journey through the labyrinthine streets of Bucharest.
- "Heart Lamp" by Banu Mushtaq, translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi (And Other Stories): The first Kannada work to be longlisted, offering a poetic exploration of exile and identity.
- "On a Woman's Madness" by Astrid Roemer, translated from Dutch by Lucy Scott (Two Lines): A groundbreaking work of queer literature, first published 43 years ago, marking the longest gap between original publication and nomination.
Judging Panel
The 2025 judging panel is chaired by acclaimed author Max Porter, joined by poet Caleb Femi, writer and publishing director Sana Goyal, translator Anton Hur, and musician Beth Orton. The judges selected the longlist from 154 submissions, the highest number since the prize's current format was established in 2016.
Prize Details
The £50,000 prize is divided equally between the author and translator, emphasizing the vital role of translation in bringing global narratives to English-speaking audiences. The shortlist will be announced on April 8, 2025, with the winner revealed on May 20, 2025, at a ceremony in London.
Engage with the Longlist
Readers worldwide have the opportunity to win a set of all 13 longlisted books by participating in a competition open until March 28, 2025.
For more details on the longlisted titles and to enter the competition, visit the official Booker Prizes website.