August is Women in Translation Month!

WITMonth, an initiative started by Meytal Radzinski in 2014, aims to focus the minds of readers (and publishers) on translated books by women authors, and give them the prominence they deserve. Put simply, women writers are less often translated into English than men writers, and win fewer prizes. Chinese is no exception, as we have recorded in all the years that Paper Republic has been compiling its annual Roll Call of Chinese writers published in translation. Last year, Eric Abrahamsen wrote for the 2023 Roll Call: ‘There is an interesting and varied collection of titles, including classics, left-fielders, big names, and small(er) names. The non-fiction in particular is a wonderful spread of current events, political topics, and essays. [But…] There also continues to be a marked gender imbalance: only two female poets in the poetry section; in fiction only 6 women to 16 men. To find out who those women are, follow the link above!

But rather than just bandy depressing numbers around here, we thought we’d start with a reminder of interviews of Chinese women writers, put together by Nicky Harman and Natascha Bruce, in which we explore how Chinese women authors from mainland China see themselves and their status. Our aim in translating and publishing these interviews was to bring the opinions of Chinese women writers on this topic, in all their rich variety and complexity, to English-language readers. Our survey was conducted in 2019-2020, but is still well worth looking at again. Here it is

Here is a quick round-up of blogs and lists we have found online for the 2024 Women in Translation Month. Keep an eye on Women in Translation for their forthcoming 2024 Reading lists.
In general, coverage of Chinese books by women authors is very patchy.

The Reading Agency mentions four recent books from Chinese but has missed Owlish Dorothy Tse/Natascha Bruce, for example.
The Community of Literary Magazines and Presses includes Owlish and Tongueless by Lau Yee-Wa/Jennifer Feeley, as well as two volumes by women poets.
Princeton Press does not offer a books list but has an interesting discussion about issues around women in translation.
Foyles Bookshop has listed two novels in their #WITMonth Asian section: Owlish and Strange Beasts of China by Yan Ge, translated by Jeremy Tiang.

Before we get on to our news round-up, we have a competition for you.

We want to expand our list of subscribers. Do you know anyone who would love to get this newsletter from Paper Republic? Please tell us. We are offering new book prizes to the people who can provide us with the most new subscribers. They (or you, with their permission) just need to fill in the Our Newsletter Subscribe box on the right-hand side of our webpage, and put your name in the box marked, Recommended by (optional). At the end of October, we’ll send out prizes to anyone who has helped us expand our Subscribers list with new names.

And now for other news.
STOP PRESS Our very own team member Chen has translated Zuo You's poem 'At Home' for the latest Read Paper Republic series and reads it here for Helen Wing's Elixir Poetry Podcast, Episode 14, online from Wednesday 4 September 2024

Translators Aloud ran a reading from one of our Read Paper Republic pieces, 'The Home of a Spare Child', from the recent Home series, read by the author, Shen Yang and the translator, Julius Kochan.

We've found a round-up of free-to-view short fiction for you. Here it is, in no particular order:
‘Nausea’ by Wong Bik-wan, translated by Vanessa Yee-kwan Wong, in Cha: An Asian Literary Journal
‘Countryside Police Station: An Unsolved Case’ by A Yi, translated by Dylan Levi King, in The World of Chinese
‘You Can Never Drive to Taipei City’ by Hsieh Chih-wei, translated by Tony Hao, in Mayday Magazine
‘Writing a Letter’ by Ling Shuhua, introduction and translation by Nicky Harman, in The Shanghai Literary Review
‘The Shapes of Stories’ by Mukyu, translated by Catherine Xinxin Yu, in The Oxonian Review
‘At the Same Time’ by Wang Jiaxin, translated by Arthur Sze, in Words Without Borders
‘City of Wild Boars’ by Derek Chung, translated by May Huang, in Words Without Borders

And a round-up of free-to-view poetry ‘A Kind of Equanimity’ and Other Poems by: Mian Mian, translated by Liang Yujing, in Bombay Literary Magazine
‘Erhu’ by Dan Ying, translated by Christina Ng, in Words Without Borders
‘Stranger Comes to Visit in a Strange Way’ by Yan An, translated by Chen Du and Xisheng Chen, in Hedge Apple Magazine
‘Situations of a Bird and Two People’ and ‘Tenebrosity’ by Yan An, translated by Chen Du and Xisheng Chen, in Tab Journal

And a mixed bag of articles, interviews and reviews
Translated Chinese Literature: Trauma Fiction, by Jack Hargreaves, in China Books Review. Chinese writers have long used fiction to process trauma, both historical and personal. In these five newly translated titles, the trend continues in modern settings, from sexual abuse in Taiwan to linguistic displacement in Hong Kong.
It’s time to read Hao Jingfang’s mind-blowing novels. The Chinese science fiction writer’s latest book, ‘Jumpnauts,’ is a wild ride, but her other stories are just as brilliant and zany, by Jacob Brogan, in The Washington Post
The best recent science fiction, fantasy and horror – reviews roundup. Includes a review of A View from the Stars, by Liu Cixin, by Lisa Tuttle, in The Guardian
‘Literature as Sanctuary and Subjection in Fang Si-Chi’s First Love Paradise’, by Lauren Yu-Ting Bo, Words Without Borders
‘7 Subversive Novels About the Challenges of Life in the United Kingdom’ by Kaliane Bradley, in Electric Literature including Mr. Ma and Son by Lao She, translated by William Dolby.
Review of ‘Tongueless’ by Lau Yee-Wa translated by Jennifer Feeley, by May Huang, in Words Without Borders
‘Literature in Translation from Taiwan: What to Read Next’, Jenna Tang, translator of Fang Si-Chi's First Love Paradise by Lin Yi-Han, recommends 8 books and short stories in translation from Taiwan to read now, in Words without Borders
8 Must-Read Spring 2024 New Releases In Translation, by Pierce Alquist, includes The Lantern and the Night Moths: Five Modern and Contemporary Chinese Poets in Translation by Yilin Wang, in Book Riot
‘Yan Lianke Wants You to Stop Describing Him As China’s Most Censored Author’ by Yan Lianke, in LiHub
Literary Catharsis: Jenna Tang on Translating Lin Yi-Han’s Only Novel, Fang Si-Chi’s First Love Paradise, by Jenna Tang, in LitHub
An Interview: Yilin Wang Curates a Crucial Anthology of Sinophone Poetry with The Lantern and the Night Moths, in Open Book
Interview With He Xi, 2024 Hugo Novella Finalist, here, translated by Joseph Brant
Interview With Baoshu, 2024 Hugo Short Story Finalist, here, translated by Xueting C. Ni
Interview: Language is a Power Broker in the Hong Kong Thriller ‘Tongueless’, in Electric Literature
‘The Languages and Literatures at Play in Hong Kong: Jennifer Feeley on Translating Lau Yee-Wa’s Tongueless’ by Michelle Chan Schmidt in Asymptote Journal
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And finally, the 2025 Fellowship in Taiwan is Open for Applications! and translators are eligible to apply.