Over the last few years, we seem to have experienced something of a cultural reset with an astonishing increase in the amount of translated literature on display in book shops. In the case of writers from Asia, the rise in popularity in Japanese and Korean fiction cannot be ignored. Already popular writers such as Murakami are gaining a younger demographic fanbase, as well as newer authors such as Mieko Kawakami rising to the publishing stage.
At its most basic form, translation is the process of transferring something from one language into another. As a student of modern languages, the theory of converting original to target language has been drummed into me since my first day at university. A crucial task of the translator is to be invisible. A great translation will be able to sink into the background, to create the illusion of not being a translation at all. Above all, you want it to sound natural, to maintain the voice of the original writer. A popular comparison might be the creative process of painting. Imagine trying to replicate an oil painting with a set of watercolours. The content is familiar, but the medium is completely different.
According to research done by the Booker Prize, only 3% of books published in the UK in the 2000s were translated works. Now we have massive sales from books like Han Kang’s The Vegetarian, translated by Deborah Smith (Man Booker International Prize winner in 2016). Translated literature has managed to acquire a ‘cool’ factor. So, why has translated literature suddenly become the latest obsession? What’s the cause behind this literary phenomenon?
There is an obvious general rise in foreign media consumption, with big box office TV dramas like Netflix’s Money Heist and Squid Games, gaining cult followings. This increase in multicultural consumption is certainly linked to the building interest in translated fiction. The younger generation are growing tired of traditional Eurocentric stories that they read at school and are hunting for something to push creative boundaries. A great example of this is Sayaka Murata’s Convenience Store Woman, which directly challenges readers with its unconventional take on human behaviour to the point of discomfort. Awards such as the Booker International Prize have also given stories like these a powerful platform to break into mainstream fiction.
As always, we turn to social media’s influence to incite change and international connection. TikTok’s enormous platform of ‘BookTok’ has given voice to stories that we wouldn’t have seen on shelves as frequently ten years ago. Translated literature has also done very well to use bold, graphic covers, often converting these books into aesthetic accessories. Think about the sheer amount of Murakami titles that you’ve seen as a permanent addition to a coffee table.
It’s an exciting development and a brilliant starting point to push you out of your literary comfort zone. Translated literature is no longer putting younger generations off with intimidating associations with dense and challenging Russian novels, but rather inspiring readers to discover something utterly unexpected.
“The Vegetarian – Han Kang” by charcoal soul is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0