In a groundbreaking achievement for Taiwanese literature, Taiwan Travelogue has been awarded the International Booker Prize, marking the first time a novel translated from Mandarin Chinese has won the prestigious award. The book, written by Yang Shuang-zi and translated by Lin King, also makes history as the first winning work from a Taiwanese author and a Taiwanese-American translator.
A Culinary Journey Through Colonial Taiwan
The novel follows a Japanese novelist with a 'monstrous appetite' on a gastronomic tour through 1930s Taiwan, which was under Japanese occupation at the time. Accompanied by a local interpreter, the story delves into the complexities of their burgeoning relationship against a backdrop of colonialism, power, class, and love. Originally published in Mandarin Chinese in 2020, the English translation was released in March 2026.
Critical Acclaim and Prize Details
Judges praised the book as 'captivating,' highlighting its dual success as both a romance and an incisive postcolonial novel. Natasha Brown, chairwoman of the 2026 judges, commended the work for its nuanced exploration of power imbalances and its intriguing metafictional layers. The novel previously won Taiwan’s highest literary honour, the Golden Tripod Award.
The £50,000 prize money was equally divided between author Yang Shuang-zi and translator Lin King. The award was presented at a ceremony held at London’s Tate Modern.
