To celebrate the notable achievement that the novel “Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄)” has won U.S. National Book Award for Translated Literature, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) presented third grade Merit Medals to the author Yang Shuang-zi (楊双子) and the book’s English translator Lin King (金翎) on Dec. 16. In addition, each of them also received a cash prize NT$300,000 from the government.
During the ceremony, Premier Cho emphasized that this is the first Taiwanese literary work to receive the prestigious U.S. National Book Award, often referred to as the “Academy Awards of Literature.” He praised “Taiwan Travelogue” for its deep sentiment toward the land and its focus on local culture, particularly in Taichung City.
Yang remarked that literature serves as a reflection of a country and its culture, capturing the essence of people’s lives. She expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Culture for its funding and support.
King highlighted that Taiwan has the utmost freedom among the regions in the world of Sinophone literature and expressed hope that Taiwan’s writers would continue to make full use of this unique advantage and express their talent.
The Ministry of Culture stated that this remarkable honor, born from Yang’s profound narrative and King’s impeccable translation, represents a new milestone for Taiwanese literature on the global stage.