I’m thrilled at hearing this year’s Best Translated Book winner:
- Stone Upon Stone, by Wieslaw Mysliwski, tr. from the Polish by Bill Johnston
I haven’t reviewed this book yet, but I finished it a few weeks ago and had a feeling it would win. It is superb, and I do (and will) highly recommend it. The award is young, but this is the second time that Archipelago Books published the winning title . . . meaning if you’re not familiar with them, you should be.
Click here for the announcement on the Three Percent blog.
Thanks for sharing this! It is interesting to read translations because they give an insight into different cultures and people of whom you would normally not be able to read about. Adding Stone Upon Stone to my TBR.
Well, I’d have to get hold of this regardless, but having beaten such a strong set of books (of the ones I’ve had a look at) and in light of your comments this is an absolute must.
Lee, I’ll go so far as to guarantee you’ll love Stone Upon Stone.
Nivedita, I can’t go that far for you, I’m afraid, since I’m only just starting to get a sense of your tastes. But Chad Post, who runs Open Letter and teaches at the University of Rochester, has the most encouraging review of a book I’ve ever heard: he used this in one of his classrooms and he says that every student loved it. Anyone who’s participated in a literature class in anyway knows that that is impossible — almost! I really need to sit down and sort out my own review quickly.
Fair play! And I’m sure you’re right…