2025 International Booker Prize: Shortlisted Authors & Books
Announced on April 8, 2025, the shortlist features six authors, all new to this prestigious recognition. Notably, three are debut works in English translation, highlighting the ever-growing strength of world literature.
1. Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix
- Translated from: French
- Translator: Helen Stevenson
- Published by: Fitzcarraldo Editions
A philosophical voyage across memory, loss, and love. Small Boat floats delicately between the metaphysical and the emotional. The French author’s lyrical prose shines through a flawless translation.
2. Under the Eye of the Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami
- Translated from: Japanese
- Translator: Asa Yoneda
- Published by: Granta
Kawakami crafts a surreal, gentle story soaked in quiet wisdom. With a touch of magical realism, this book takes readers through grief, wonder, and healing, typical of Japanese literary elegance.
3. Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico
- Translated from: Italian
- Translator: Sophie Hughes
- Published by: Serpent’s Tail
A haunting meditation on human ideals and obsession with flawlessness. Perfection examines the unspoken toll of modern perfectionism—both personal and cultural.
4. Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq
- Translated from: Kannada
- Translator: Deepa Bhasthi
- Published by: Tilted Axis Press
A powerful and emotional Kannada novel translated for the first time into English. Heart Lamp explores intergenerational trauma and the endurance of the feminine voice in a patriarchal society. A proud moment for Indian literature on a global platform.
5. A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre
- Translated from: French
- Translator: Mark Hutchinson
- Published by: Les Fugitives
A novella that reads like a mystery, romance, and philosophical monologue all in one. Serre’s crisp narrative investigates memory and intimacy with a unique stylistic boldness.
6. On the Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle
- Translated from: Danish
- Translator: Barbara Haveland
Published by: Lolli Editions
Balle’s experimental novel is intriguing in form. It is also intriguing in substance. It delves into time, space, and the nature of human understanding.
Content Highlights: Why This Shortlist Matters
- All six authors are shortlisted for the first time, showcasing a refreshing shift towards new global voices.
- For the first time, Kannada literature joins the prestigious league, further spotlighting Indian regional writing.
- The Book Promotion of translated works is evidently rising, thanks to dedicated publishers and literary translators.
- The 2025 prize includes both novels and short story collections, giving readers diverse literary experiences.
Prize Ceremony & Broadcast
The much-awaited winner announcement will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the Tate Modern in London. Readers and book lovers from around the world can watch live. They should use the official Booker Prize social media platforms for the reveal.
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Book Promotion & the International Booker Prize
The International Booker Prize remains one of the finest tools of Book Promotion in the global publishing ecosystem. It not only amplifies literary voices from non-English regions but also encourages mainstream readership to explore translated literature.
Literary influencers and book bloggers promote these titles across platforms. These include Instagram reels and YouTube reviews. This recognition significantly drives book sales. It also enhances worldwide appreciation.
Conclusion: A Testament to Literary Diversity
The 2025 shortlist is a celebration of the human spirit, expressed through language, culture, and storytelling. As readers, writers, and promoters of literature, it’s a moment of joy and introspection.
In the quiet corners of Kannada-speaking India, literature continues to remind us of our shared humanity. It also does this in the bustling cultural landscape of Japan.
So this May, let’s celebrate these stories, their translators, and the idea that literature knows no borders.
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