Taiwan Travelogue wins International Booker

Yáng Shuāng-zǐ and translator Lin King won the 2026 International Booker Prize on May 19 for *Taiwan Travelogue*, the Booker Prize Foundation said. The award was announced at Tate Modern in London, where judge chair Natasha Brown said the novel was “a captivating, slyly sophisticated” work that succeeds as both a romance and a postcolonial novel. The book was translated from Mandarin Chinese and published in English by And Other Stories. The foundation said the win made Yáng the first Taiwanese writer and King the first Taiwanese-American translator to receive the prize. ### Which book won, and when was it announced? The Booker Prize Foundation said on May 19 that *Taiwan Travelogue* had been named the 2026 International Booker Prize winner. The foundation described the novel as the first book translated from Mandarin Chinese to win the prize, which honors fiction translated into English. (thebookerprizes.com) The New York Times reported the book is the first novel originally written in Mandarin to win the award. NPR also described it as the first work translated from Mandarin Chinese to take the prize. ### What is *Taiwan Travelogue* about? The Booker Prize Foundation said the novel takes the form of a fictional translation of a rediscovered Japanese travel memoir. (thebookerprizes.com) It follows a culinary journey across 1930s Taiwan under Japanese colonial rule and explores history, power, class, colonialism and love through two women’s relationship. The Booker library entry says the story begins in May 1938, when the young Japanese novelist Aoyama Chizuko arrives in Taiwan. (nytimes.com) The novel centers on Aoyama and her Taiwanese interpreter, Ō Chizuru, as they travel the island. ### Why was this win described as historic? The Booker Prize Foundation said Yáng and King were the first Taiwanese and Taiwanese-American winners of the International Booker Prize. (thebookerprizes.com) Focus Taiwan also reported the pair’s win from London on May 20. Natasha Brown, the chair of the 2026 judges, said the book asks whether love can overcome a power imbalance. (thebookerprizes.com) Brown said the judges found in the novel both a romance and an account of colonial rule and language. ### Who are Yáng Shuāng-zǐ and Lin King? The Booker Prize Foundation describes Yáng Shuāng-zǐ as a Taiwanese writer of fiction, essays, manga and video game scripts, as well as literary criticism. (thebookerprizes.com) It said *Taiwan Travelogue* was her first work translated into English. Lin King was named by the foundation as the book’s English translator and co-recipient of the prize, which is awarded jointly to author and translator. (thebookerprizes.com) The International Booker Prize page says the winning book was announced at a London ceremony on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. ### What happens next for the book? Taipei Times reported on May 23 that *Taiwan Travelogue* is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan co-production. (thebookerprizes.com) Taiwan News, citing producer Chang Chen-yu, reported the same day that Chang was attached to the project. Taipei Times said the adaptation news followed the prize announcement earlier that week. (thebookerprizes.com) The next concrete milestone is development of the Taiwan-Japan series, with Chang Chen-yu named as producer on the project. (taipeitimes.com)