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World Literature

Most Recommended Books

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

“Rabassa has accomplished something utterly terrific in his translation of One Hundred Years of Solitude. This novel, which was revolutionary in its structure and its use of imagination, is now absolutely compelling in English as well as in Spanish. On the assumption that most people who have been influenced by García Márquez in the English speaking world have been influenced through Rabassa’s translation, it had a huge effect on novel writing in English.”

Edith Grossman, Translator

Read more

Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih

“It’s a novel about the clash of cultures, the intermixture of cultures. It’s a novel about what happens to a man, or two men, when they leave their village and go north, to England, the land where the fish die of cold, and get a western education, and some of the dangers of that. It’s a very strange and very complex novel”

Robert Irwin,

Read more

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

At a time when it's hard to travel, there's nothing better to take you around the world than the literature of different countries. From Italian to Indonesian, Georgian to Japanese, Pakistani to Palestinian, we're gradually covering literature from around the world. If you'd like to read recent novels from around the world, but don't much mind which country, we also cover the International Booker Prize, awarded annually for the best novel translated into English.

Among others, in European literature we have recommendations of:
The best classic French novels, the best contemporary Scandinavian literature, the best Italian novels, the best Belgian novel, the best literature depicting the real Greece.

In Asian literature, we have recommendations of the best modern Japanese literature, some of the classics of Chinese literature, as well as Chinese dissident literature. We also have the best Indian novels of 2019.

In Russian literature and Eurasia we have the best Russian short stories as well as the best Georgian literature.

In African literature we have Nigerian novels and the best South African fiction.

In Middle Eastern literature we have the best contemporary Egyptian fiction and best Israeli fiction as well as the classics of Arabic literature.

In Latin American literature, we have recommendations of the best Cuban novels, as well as the best novels from Latin America as a whole.

For Australasia, we the best Australian novels and Australian crime fiction.

We also have selections specifically on the best of English Literature and of American Literature.

    The Best Novels in Translation: the 2019 Booker International Prize, recommended by Bettany Hughes

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    The Best Novels in Translation: the 2019 Booker International Prize - Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones

    1

    Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
    by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones

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    The Best Novels in Translation: the 2019 Booker International Prize - Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi, translated by Marilyn Booth

    2

    Celestial Bodies
    by Jokha Alharthi, translated by Marilyn Booth

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    The Best Novels in Translation: the 2019 Booker International Prize - The Years by Annie Ernaux, translated by Alison Strayer

    3

    The Years
    by Annie Ernaux, translated by Alison Strayer

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    The Best Novels in Translation: the 2019 Booker International Prize - The Pine Islands by Jen Calleja & Marion Poschmann

    4

    The Pine Islands
    by Jen Calleja & Marion Poschmann

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    The Best Novels in Translation: the 2019 Booker International Prize - The Shape of the Ruins by Juan Gabriel Vásquez, translated by Anne McLean

    5

    The Shape of the Ruins
    by Juan Gabriel Vásquez, translated by Anne McLean

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    The Best Novels in Translation: the 2019 Booker International Prize - The Remainder by Alia Trabucco Zerán, translated by Sophie Hughes

    6

    The Remainder
    by Alia Trabucco Zerán, translated by Sophie Hughes

The Best Novels in Translation: the 2019 Booker International Prize, recommended by Bettany Hughes

Bettany Hughes, author of Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities and chair of this year’s Booker International Prize judging panel, talks us through the six books they have shortlisted for the title of best novel in translation.

    The Best Contemporary Indonesian Literature, recommended by Dee Lestari

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    The Best Contemporary Indonesian Literature - Suddenly the Night by Sapardi Djoko Damono

    1

    Suddenly the Night
    by Sapardi Djoko Damono

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    The Best Contemporary Indonesian Literature - Saman: A Novel by Ayu Utami

    2

    Saman: A Novel
    by Ayu Utami

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    The Best Contemporary Indonesian Literature - Man Tiger: A Novel by Eka Kurniawan

    3

    Man Tiger: A Novel
    by Eka Kurniawan

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    The Best Contemporary Indonesian Literature - Raden Mandasia: Si Pencuri Daging Sapi by Yusi Avianto Pareanom

    4

    Raden Mandasia: Si Pencuri Daging Sapi
    by Yusi Avianto Pareanom

  • Read
    The Best Contemporary Indonesian Literature - Kill the Radio by Dorothea Rosa Herliany

    5

    Kill the Radio
    by Dorothea Rosa Herliany

The Best Contemporary Indonesian Literature, recommended by Dee Lestari

There’s never been a better time to be an Indonesian writer, says the singer-songwriter and bestselling author of Supernova Dee Lestari, as she recommends five fascinating works of contemporary Indonesian literature.

    Humphrey Davies recommends the best of Contemporary Egyptian Literature

  • Read
    Humphrey Davies recommends the best of Contemporary Egyptian Literature - The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany & Humphrey Davies

    1

    The Yacoubian Building
    by Alaa Al Aswany & Humphrey Davies

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    Humphrey Davies recommends the best of Contemporary Egyptian Literature - On Being Abbas El Abd by Ahmed Alaidy & Humphrey Davies

    2

    On Being Abbas El Abd
    by Ahmed Alaidy & Humphrey Davies

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    Humphrey Davies recommends the best of Contemporary Egyptian Literature - Life Is More Beautiful than Paradise by Khaled al-Berry

    3

    Life Is More Beautiful than Paradise
    by Khaled al-Berry

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    Humphrey Davies recommends the best of Contemporary Egyptian Literature - Taxi by Khalid Al Khamissi

    4

    Taxi
    by Khalid Al Khamissi

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    Humphrey Davies recommends the best of Contemporary Egyptian Literature - Metro by Magdy El Shafee

    5

    Metro
    by Magdy El Shafee

Humphrey Davies recommends the best of Contemporary Egyptian Literature

One of the leading translators of contemporary Egyptian literature, Humphrey Davies, gives us his top choices.

    Classics of Arabic Literature, recommended by Robert Irwin

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    Classics of Arabic Literature - The Life and Works of Jahiz by Charles Pellat & Jahiz

    1

    The Life and Works of Jahiz
    by Charles Pellat & Jahiz

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    Classics of Arabic Literature - The Meadows of Gold by Masudi

    2

    The Meadows of Gold
    by Masudi

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    Classics of Arabic Literature - The Arabian Nights by Husain Haddawy & Muhsin Mahdi

    3

    The Arabian Nights
    by Husain Haddawy & Muhsin Mahdi

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    Classics of Arabic Literature - The Muqaddimah by Ibn Khaldun

    4

    The Muqaddimah
    by Ibn Khaldun

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    Classics of Arabic Literature - Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih

    5

    Season of Migration to the North
    by Tayeb Salih

Classics of Arabic Literature, recommended by Robert Irwin

The distinguished Arabist, novelist and historian Robert Irwin selects five classics of Arabic literature, from the Life and Work of Jahiz (aka ‘goggle eyes’) to a strange and complex Sudanese masterpiece

    The Best of Georgian Literature, recommended by Gvantsa Jobava

  • Read
    The Best of Georgian Literature - The Knight in the Panther Skin by Lyn Coffin (translator) & Shota Rustaveli

    1

    The Knight in the Panther Skin
    by Lyn Coffin (translator) & Shota Rustaveli

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    The Best of Georgian Literature - Kvachi by Donald Rayfield (Translator) & Mikheil Javakhishvili

    2

    Kvachi
    by Donald Rayfield (Translator) & Mikheil Javakhishvili

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    The Best of Georgian Literature - A Man Was Going Down the Road by Donald Rayfield (Translator) & Otar Chiladze

    3

    A Man Was Going Down the Road
    by Donald Rayfield (Translator) & Otar Chiladze

  • Read
    The Best of Georgian Literature - The Lame Doll by Ani Kopaliani (translator), Besik Kharanauli & Timothy Kercher (translator)

    4

    The Lame Doll
    by Ani Kopaliani (translator), Besik Kharanauli & Timothy Kercher (translator)

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    The Best of Georgian Literature - The Cushion by Elizabeth Heighway (translator), Irakli Samsonadze & Philip Price (translator)

    5

    The Cushion
    by Elizabeth Heighway (translator), Irakli Samsonadze & Philip Price (translator)

The Best of Georgian Literature, recommended by Gvantsa Jobava

How does a country left in ruins by 70 years of Soviet oppression rebuild its literature? It starts from scratch and breaks all the rules. Gvantsa Jobava reveals the riches of Georgian literature, from 12th-century feminist epics to radical, experimental accounts of a post-Independence underworld

    Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature

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    Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature - Har døden taget noget fra dig så giv det tilbage, Carls bog by Naja Marie Aidt

    1

    Har døden taget noget fra dig så giv det tilbage, Carls bog
    by Naja Marie Aidt

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    Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature - Yahya Hassan: Digte by Yahya Hassan

    2

    Yahya Hassan: Digte
    by Yahya Hassan

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    Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature - Det är natten by Karolina Ramqvist

    3

    Det är natten
    by Karolina Ramqvist

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    Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature - Wilful Disregard: A Novel About Love by Lena Andersson and Sarah Death (translator)

    4

    Wilful Disregard: A Novel About Love
    by Lena Andersson and Sarah Death (translator)

  • Read
    Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature - Moonstone: The Boy Who Never Was by Sjón and Victoria Cribb (translator)

    5

    Moonstone: The Boy Who Never Was
    by Sjón and Victoria Cribb (translator)

Dorthe Nors on the best Contemporary Scandinavian Literature

Minimalism is big with the Danes while Icelanders favour magical realism; the Swedes keep it classical while the Norwegians get emotional. Man Booker International shortlistee Dorthe Nors takes us on a tour of the most exciting voices in contemporary Scandinavian literature.

    Essential Norwegian Fiction, recommended by Roy Jacobsen

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    Essential Norwegian Fiction - Gisli Sursson’s Saga by Various

    1

    Gisli Sursson’s Saga
    by Various

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    Essential Norwegian Fiction - Growth of the Soil by Knut Hamsun and Sverre Lyngstad (translator)

    2

    Growth of the Soil
    by Knut Hamsun and Sverre Lyngstad (translator)

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    Essential Norwegian Fiction - Shyness and Dignity by Dag Solstad and Sverre Lyngstad (translator)

    3

    Shyness and Dignity
    by Dag Solstad and Sverre Lyngstad (translator)

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    Essential Norwegian Fiction - Beatles by Lars Saabye Christensen and Don Bartlett (translator)

    4

    Beatles
    by Lars Saabye Christensen and Don Bartlett (translator)

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    Essential Norwegian Fiction - My Struggle by Karl Ove Knausgård and Don Bartlett (translator)

    5

    My Struggle
    by Karl Ove Knausgård and Don Bartlett (translator)

Essential Norwegian Fiction, recommended by Roy Jacobsen

Sagas old and new, from Gisli Sursson’s trials to Knausgård’s struggle, form the backbone of Roy Jacobsen’s selection of essential fiction from Norway, a country that is like ‘a black and not very polished diamond’, and where writers and readers seek out the human, ‘no matter how awkward, grandiose, sentimental, nostalgic, embarrassing, hyperbolic, stupid, hilarious or dangerous it may be’

    The Best Modern Japanese Literature, recommended by Linda Flores

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    The Best Modern Japanese Literature - Convenience Store Woman: A Novel by Sayaka Murata

    1

    Convenience Store Woman: A Novel
    by Sayaka Murata

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    The Best Modern Japanese Literature - Kokoro by Natsume Sōseki

    2

    Kokoro
    by Natsume Sōseki

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    The Best Modern Japanese Literature - Masks by Fumiko Enchi

    3

    Masks
    by Fumiko Enchi

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    The Best Modern Japanese Literature - Woman Critiqued: Translated Essays on Japanese Women's Writing by Rebecca L. Copeland

    4

    Woman Critiqued: Translated Essays on Japanese Women's Writing
    by Rebecca L. Copeland

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    The Best Modern Japanese Literature - March Was Made of Yarn by David Karashima & Elmer Luke

    5

    March Was Made of Yarn
    by David Karashima & Elmer Luke

The Best Modern Japanese Literature, recommended by Linda Flores

To the western eye, Japan often appears as a surprising combination of very advanced development, and extreme cultural peculiarity. Linda Flores, Associate Professor of modern Japanese literature at the University of Oxford, guides us through this discovery with five great works of modern Japanese literature.

    The Best Contemporary Israeli Fiction, recommended by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen

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    The Best Contemporary Israeli Fiction - The Hilltop by Assaf Gavron

    1

    The Hilltop
    by Assaf Gavron

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    The Best Contemporary Israeli Fiction - Second Person Singular by Sayed Kashua

    2

    Second Person Singular
    by Sayed Kashua

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    The Best Contemporary Israeli Fiction - To the End of the Land by David Grossman

    3

    To the End of the Land
    by David Grossman

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    The Best Contemporary Israeli Fiction - Homesick by Eshkol Nevo

    4

    Homesick
    by Eshkol Nevo

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    The Best Contemporary Israeli Fiction - Borderlife by Dorit Rabinyan

    5

    Borderlife
    by Dorit Rabinyan

The Best Contemporary Israeli Fiction, recommended by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen

The Middle East is so dominated by war and politics that all literature must be viewed through this prism, says Israeli novelist Ayelet Gundar-Goshen. She recommends the best Israeli novels.

    Tim Parks recommends the best Italian Novels

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    Tim Parks recommends the best Italian Novels - Little Novels of Sicily by Giovanni Verga (translated by DH Lawrence)

    1

    Little Novels of Sicily
    by Giovanni Verga (translated by DH Lawrence)

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    Tim Parks recommends the best Italian Novels - Zeno’s Conscience by Italo Svevo

    2

    Zeno’s Conscience
    by Italo Svevo

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    Tim Parks recommends the best Italian Novels - Arturo’s Island by Elsa Morante

    3

    Arturo’s Island
    by Elsa Morante

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    Tim Parks recommends the best Italian Novels - The Moon and the Bonfires by Cesare Pavese

    4

    The Moon and the Bonfires
    by Cesare Pavese

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    Tim Parks recommends the best Italian Novels - The Garden of the Finzi-Continis by Giorgio Bassani

    5

    The Garden of the Finzi-Continis
    by Giorgio Bassani

Tim Parks recommends the best Italian Novels

In the decades following Italian unification, its authors started writing in the new common language: Italian. Italy-based novelist Tim Parks introduces us to some of the best novels by some of Italy’s greatest writers.

    The Best Italian Literature, recommended by Dacia Maraini

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    The Best Italian Literature - Canti by Giacomo Leopardi

    1

    Canti
    by Giacomo Leopardi

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    The Best Italian Literature - Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariosto

    2

    Orlando Furioso
    by Ludovico Ariosto

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    The Best Italian Literature - I vicerè (The Viceroys) by Federico De Roberto

    3

    I vicerè (The Viceroys)
    by Federico De Roberto

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    The Best Italian Literature - Le Confessioni d'un italiano (Confessions of an Italian) by Ippolito Nievo

    4

    Le Confessioni d'un italiano (Confessions of an Italian)
    by Ippolito Nievo

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    The Best Italian Literature - Canne al vento (Reeds in the Wind) by Grazia Deledda.

    5

    Canne al vento (Reeds in the Wind)
    by Grazia Deledda.

The Best Italian Literature, recommended by Dacia Maraini

One of Italy’s greatest living authors, Dacia Maraini, nominates her choices for the best works of Italian literature.

    The best books on Jewish Vienna, recommended by Brigid Grauman

  • Read
    The best books on Jewish Vienna - Tante Jolesch or the Decline of the West in Anecdotes by Friedrich Torberg & Maria Poglitsch Bauer (translator)

    1

    Tante Jolesch or the Decline of the West in Anecdotes
    by Friedrich Torberg & Maria Poglitsch Bauer (translator)

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    The best books on Jewish Vienna - The Road into the Open by Arthur Schnitzler & Roger Byers (translator)

    2

    The Road into the Open
    by Arthur Schnitzler & Roger Byers (translator)

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    The best books on Jewish Vienna - The Radetzky March by Joseph Roth & Michael Hofmann (translator)

    3

    The Radetzky March
    by Joseph Roth & Michael Hofmann (translator)

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    The best books on Jewish Vienna - The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig & Anthea Bell (translator)

    4

    The World of Yesterday
    by Stefan Zweig & Anthea Bell (translator)

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    The best books on Jewish Vienna - Last Waltz in Vienna by George Clare

    5

    Last Waltz in Vienna
    by George Clare

The best books on Jewish Vienna, recommended by Brigid Grauman

In the late 19th and early 20th century, Vienna had a vibrant intellectual and cultural life, embraced and at times led by key figures in its large Jewish community. All that would disappear with the rise of anti-Semitism and the Anschluss. Many Jews fled or committed suicide. Others were deported to concentration camps. After the war some went back, but Vienna would never be the same. Here Brigid Grauman, whose father’s family were assimilated Jews from Vienna, recommends books that evoke that poignant, tragic period that ended with World War II.

    The Best Transnational Literature, recommended by Mohsin Hamid

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    The Best Transnational Literature - No Longer at Ease by Chinua Achebe

    1

    No Longer at Ease
    by Chinua Achebe

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    The Best Transnational Literature - A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway

    2

    A Moveable Feast
    by Ernest Hemingway

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    The Best Transnational Literature - Meatless Days: A Memoir by Sara Suleri

    3

    Meatless Days: A Memoir
    by Sara Suleri

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    The Best Transnational Literature - The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

    4

    The Buddha in the Attic
    by Julie Otsuka

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    The Best Transnational Literature - Fictions by Jorge Luis Borges

    5

    Fictions
    by Jorge Luis Borges

The Best Transnational Literature, recommended by Mohsin Hamid

Beleaguered ‘citizens of nowhere’ will be pleased to know they have their own literary genre. For anyone who has ever wondered where they belong, or why, when you leave your home country, it’s never the same when you return, here are the best five books to read—including some by the greatest authors of the 20th century.

    The Best Indian Novels of 2019, recommended by Rana Dasgupta

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    The Best Indian Novels of 2019 - Ib's Endless Search for Satisfaction by Roshan Ali

    1

    Ib's Endless Search for Satisfaction
    by Roshan Ali

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    The Best Indian Novels of 2019 - My Father's Garden by Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar

    2

    My Father's Garden
    by Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar

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    The Best Indian Novels of 2019 - Trial by Silence by Perumal Murugan, translated by Aniruddhan Vasudevan

    3

    Trial by Silence
    by Perumal Murugan, translated by Aniruddhan Vasudevan

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    The Best Indian Novels of 2019 - A Lonely Harvest by Perumal Murugan, translated by Aniruddhan Vasudevan

    4

    A Lonely Harvest
    by Perumal Murugan, translated by Aniruddhan Vasudevan

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    The Best Indian Novels of 2019 - The Far Field: A Novel by Madhuri Vijay

    5

    The Far Field: A Novel
    by Madhuri Vijay

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    The Best Indian Novels of 2019 - There's Gunpowder in the Air by Manoranjan Byapari, translated by Arunava Sinha

    6

    There's Gunpowder in the Air
    by Manoranjan Byapari, translated by Arunava Sinha

The Best Indian Novels of 2019, recommended by Rana Dasgupta

India has a thriving literary community working in 22 official languages plus English, says Rana Dasgupta, the literary director of the JCB Prize: a major award for the best new novel by an Indian author. Here, he talks us through their 2019 shortlist.

    Enrique Vila-Matas on Books that Shaped Him

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    Enrique Vila-Matas on Books that Shaped Him - La Bibliothèque invisible by Stéphane Mahieu

    1

    La Bibliothèque invisible
    by Stéphane Mahieu

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    Enrique Vila-Matas on Books that Shaped Him - Mirabiblia: Catalogo ragionato di libri introvabili by Paolo Albani & Paolo della Bella

    2

    Mirabiblia: Catalogo ragionato di libri introvabili
    by Paolo Albani & Paolo della Bella

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    Enrique Vila-Matas on Books that Shaped Him - The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne

    3

    The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman
    by Laurence Sterne

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    Enrique Vila-Matas on Books that Shaped Him - Nueva Enciclopedia by Alberto Savinio

    4

    Nueva Enciclopedia
    by Alberto Savinio

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    Enrique Vila-Matas on Books that Shaped Him - The Afternoon of Mr. Andesmas by Marguerite Duras

    5

    The Afternoon of Mr. Andesmas
    by Marguerite Duras

Enrique Vila-Matas on Books that Shaped Him

‘I like to show some restraint when it comes to making things up…’ The Spanish novelist Enrique Vila-Matas discusses the role of risk in writing, the ‘crisis of the novel’, and five books that have shaped his own work. (You can also read this interview in the original Spanish.)

    Massimo Carlotto recommends the best Italian Crime Fiction

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    Massimo Carlotto recommends the best Italian Crime Fiction - Per sempre by Piergiorgio Pulixi

    1

    Per sempre
    by Piergiorgio Pulixi

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    Massimo Carlotto recommends the best Italian Crime Fiction - Prima di dirti addio by Piergiorgio Pulixi

    2

    Prima di dirti addio
    by Piergiorgio Pulixi

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    Massimo Carlotto recommends the best Italian Crime Fiction - La buona legge di Mariasole by L. R. Carrino

    3

    La buona legge di Mariasole
    by L. R. Carrino

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    Massimo Carlotto recommends the best Italian Crime Fiction - Un caso come gli altri by Pasquale Ruju

    4

    Un caso come gli altri
    by Pasquale Ruju

  • Read
    Massimo Carlotto recommends the best Italian Crime Fiction - I pregiudizi di Dio by Luca Poldelmengo

    5

    I pregiudizi di Dio
    by Luca Poldelmengo

Massimo Carlotto recommends the best Italian Crime Fiction

Journalists are no longer able to properly investigate organised crime in modern Italy — leaving it to crime fiction writers to pick up the slack, says the acclaimed Italian novelist, Massimo Carlotto. Here he chooses five noir novels that explore the reality of Italian corruption in highly original ways.

    Border Stories, recommended by Claudia Sadowski-Smith

  • Read
    Border Stories - Almanac of the Dead by Leslie Marmon Silko

    1

    Almanac of the Dead
    by Leslie Marmon Silko

  • Read
    Border Stories - The Crystal Frontier by Carlos Fuentes

    2

    The Crystal Frontier
    by Carlos Fuentes

  • Read
    Border Stories - Tropic of Orange by Karen Tei Yamashita

    3

    Tropic of Orange
    by Karen Tei Yamashita

  • Read
    Border Stories - The Guardians by Ana Castillo

    4

    The Guardians
    by Ana Castillo

  • Read
    Border Stories - The River Flows North by Graciela Limón

    5

    The River Flows North
    by Graciela Limón

Border Stories, recommended by Claudia Sadowski-Smith

National borders are fertile territory for fiction, says literature professor Claudia Sadowski-Smith. She recommends five novels about migration and border crossings.

    The best books on Translation, recommended by Edith Grossman

  • Read
    The best books on Translation - Don Quixote by Cervantes (translated by Samuel Putnam)

    1

    Don Quixote
    by Cervantes (translated by Samuel Putnam)

  • Read
    The best books on Translation - One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

    2

    One Hundred Years of Solitude
    by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

  • Read
    The best books on Translation - The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis by José Saramago (translated by Giovanni Pontiero)

    3

    The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis
    by José Saramago (translated by Giovanni Pontiero)

  • Read
    The best books on Translation - Translating Neruda by John Felstiner

    4

    Translating Neruda
    by John Felstiner

  • Read
    The best books on Translation - Paul Celan by John Felstiner

    5

    Paul Celan
    by John Felstiner

The best books on Translation, recommended by Edith Grossman

The award-winning literary translator discusses books on and of translation that inspired her, and considers the trade-off that every translator faces, between fidelity and meaning

    Memoirs of the Armenian Genocide, recommended by Thomas de Waal

  • Read
    Memoirs of the Armenian Genocide - My Grandmother by Fethiye Cetin

    1

    My Grandmother
    by Fethiye Cetin

  • Read
    Memoirs of the Armenian Genocide - Four Years in the Mountains of Kurdistan by Aram Haigaz

    2

    Four Years in the Mountains of Kurdistan
    by Aram Haigaz

  • Read
    Memoirs of the Armenian Genocide - Burning Orchards by Gurgen Mahari

    3

    Burning Orchards
    by Gurgen Mahari

  • Read
    Memoirs of the Armenian Genocide - Song of America by George M. Mardikian

    4

    Song of America
    by George M. Mardikian

  • Read
    Memoirs of the Armenian Genocide - I Ask You, Ladies and Gentlemen by Leon Surmelian

    5

    I Ask You, Ladies and Gentlemen
    by Leon Surmelian

Memoirs of the Armenian Genocide, recommended by Thomas de Waal

More than 100 years after the Armenian genocide, author Tom de Waal chooses books that sidestep the politics and bring us back to the human story. He picks the best memoirs of the Armenian genocide.

    Ma Jian on Chinese Dissident Literature

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    Ma Jian on Chinese Dissident Literature - The Lament by Qu Yuan

    1

    The Lament
    by Qu Yuan

  • Read
    Ma Jian on Chinese Dissident Literature - Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong

    2

    Romance of the Three Kingdoms
    by Luo Guanzhong

  • Read
    Ma Jian on Chinese Dissident Literature - The Real Story of Ah-Q by Lu Xun

    3

    The Real Story of Ah-Q
    by Lu Xun

  • Read
    Ma Jian on Chinese Dissident Literature - One Man’s Bible by Gao Xingjian

    4

    One Man’s Bible
    by Gao Xingjian

  • Read
    Ma Jian on Chinese Dissident Literature - Tombstone by Yang Jisheng

    5

    Tombstone
    by Yang Jisheng

Ma Jian on Chinese Dissident Literature

Writers in China are afraid to criticise the state and society, says London-based author Ma Jian. From the 3rd century BC to 2008, these five exceptional works show how it’s done.

    Ahmede Hussain on South Asian Literature

  • Read
    Ahmede Hussain on South Asian Literature - The New Anthem by Ahmede Hussain (editor)

    1

    The New Anthem
    by Ahmede Hussain (editor)

  • Read
    Ahmede Hussain on South Asian Literature - The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

    2

    The Reluctant Fundamentalist
    by Mohsin Hamid

  • Read
    Ahmede Hussain on South Asian Literature - The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh

    3

    The Glass Palace
    by Amitav Ghosh

  • Read
    Ahmede Hussain on South Asian Literature - English, August by Upamanyu Chatterjee

    4

    English, August
    by Upamanyu Chatterjee

  • Read
    Ahmede Hussain on South Asian Literature - Seasonal Adjustments by Adib Khan

    5

    Seasonal Adjustments
    by Adib Khan

Ahmede Hussain on South Asian Literature

The acclaimed author recommends the most exciting new writing out of India and South Asia, including accounts of 9/11 from a Pakistani perspective and an emigré’s return to an unfamiliar Bangladesh.

    David Grossman on the Books That Shaped Him

  • Read
    David Grossman on the Books That Shaped Him - Tevye the Dairyman and Motl the Cantor’s Son by Sholem Aleichem

    1

    Tevye the Dairyman and Motl the Cantor’s Son
    by Sholem Aleichem

  • Read
    David Grossman on the Books That Shaped Him - The Street of Crocodiles and Other Stories by Bruno Schultz and Celina Wieniewska (translator)

    2

    The Street of Crocodiles and Other Stories
    by Bruno Schultz and Celina Wieniewska (translator)

  • Read
    David Grossman on the Books That Shaped Him - Dubliners by James Joyce

    3

    Dubliners
    by James Joyce

  • Read
    David Grossman on the Books That Shaped Him - Mario and the Magician and Other Stories by Thomas Mann

    4

    Mario and the Magician and Other Stories
    by Thomas Mann

  • Read
    David Grossman on the Books That Shaped Him - History: A Novel by Elsa Morante and William Weaver (translator)

    5

    History: A Novel
    by Elsa Morante and William Weaver (translator)

David Grossman on the Books That Shaped Him

David Grossman, renowned Israeli author and winner of the 2017 Man Booker International Prize, shares the books that have shaped his writing, from Sholem Aleichem to James Joyce and Elsa Morante

    Rosamund Bartlett recommends the best Russian Short Stories

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    Rosamund Bartlett recommends the best Russian Short Stories - The Queen of Spades and Other Stories by Alexander Pushkin

    1

    The Queen of Spades and Other Stories
    by Alexander Pushkin

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    Rosamund Bartlett recommends the best Russian Short Stories - Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk by Nikolai Leskov

    2

    Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk
    by Nikolai Leskov

  • Read
    Rosamund Bartlett recommends the best Russian Short Stories - Master and Man and Other Stories by Leo Tolstoy

    3

    Master and Man and Other Stories
    by Leo Tolstoy

  • Read
    Rosamund Bartlett recommends the best Russian Short Stories - About Love and Other Stories by Anton Chekhov

    4

    About Love and Other Stories
    by Anton Chekhov

  • Read
    Rosamund Bartlett recommends the best Russian Short Stories - The Complete Works of Isaac Babel by Isaac Babel

    5

    The Complete Works of Isaac Babel
    by Isaac Babel

Rosamund Bartlett recommends the best Russian Short Stories

In Russia, it’s often fallen to writers to challenge conventions and speak the truth, says the translator and biographer Rosamund Bartlett. She makes a personal selection of some of the most exhilarating Russian short fiction.

    The Best American Stories, recommended by Simon Winchester

  • Read
    The Best American Stories - O Pioneers! by Willa Cather

    1

    O Pioneers!
    by Willa Cather

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    The Best American Stories - Stoner by John Williams

    2

    Stoner
    by John Williams

  • Read
    The Best American Stories - Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner

    3

    Crossing to Safety
    by Wallace Stegner

  • Read
    The Best American Stories - Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson

    4

    Winesburg, Ohio
    by Sherwood Anderson

  • Read
    The Best American Stories - Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser

    5

    Sister Carrie
    by Theodore Dreiser

The Best American Stories, recommended by Simon Winchester

Modern America is a story of expanding frontiers, says bestselling author Simon Winchester. He tells us about five novels that shed light on the social history of his adopted homeland, from the late 19th century to the Great Depression.

    Allegra Goodman recommends the best Jewish Fiction

  • Read
    Allegra Goodman recommends the best Jewish Fiction - Inside Kasrilevke by Sholem Aleichem

    1

    Inside Kasrilevke
    by Sholem Aleichem

  • Read
    Allegra Goodman recommends the best Jewish Fiction - Rabbis and Wives by Chaim Grade

    2

    Rabbis and Wives
    by Chaim Grade

  • Read
    Allegra Goodman recommends the best Jewish Fiction - The Chosen by Chaim Potok

    3

    The Chosen
    by Chaim Potok

  • Read
    Allegra Goodman recommends the best Jewish Fiction - The Pagan Rabbi by Cynthia Ozick

    4

    The Pagan Rabbi
    by Cynthia Ozick

  • Read
    Allegra Goodman recommends the best Jewish Fiction - Daniel Deronda by George Eliot

    5

    Daniel Deronda
    by George Eliot

Allegra Goodman recommends the best Jewish Fiction

Jewish literature doesn’t have to be written by Jews, says the novelist, but it does have to speak to the Jewish experience. She tells us about the Jewish writing, from Chaim Potok to George Eliot, that means the most to her.

    The Best San Francisco Novels, recommended by Armistead Maupin

  • Read
    The Best San Francisco Novels - McTeague by Frank Norris

    1

    McTeague
    by Frank Norris

  • Read
    The Best San Francisco Novels - The Confessions of Max Tivoli by Andrew Sean Greer

    2

    The Confessions of Max Tivoli
    by Andrew Sean Greer

  • Read
    The Best San Francisco Novels - The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett

    3

    The Maltese Falcon
    by Dashiell Hammett

  • Read
    The Best San Francisco Novels - The Golden Gate by Vikram Seth

    4

    The Golden Gate
    by Vikram Seth

  • Read
    The Best San Francisco Novels - The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

    5

    The Joy Luck Club
    by Amy Tan

The Best San Francisco Novels, recommended by Armistead Maupin

The author of the Tales of the City novel series, Armistead Maupin, tells us about San Francisco’s spirit of place, and the books that best capture the city’s sense of possibility and noirish feel. He recommends the best novels set in San Francisco.

    Essential New York Novels, recommended by Jay McInerney

  • Read
    Essential New York Novels - The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

    1

    The House of Mirth
    by Edith Wharton

  • Read
    Essential New York Novels - The Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger

    2

    The Catcher in the Rye
    by J D Salinger

  • Read
    Essential New York Novels - The Wicked Pavilion by Dawn Powell

    3

    The Wicked Pavilion
    by Dawn Powell

  • Read
    Essential New York Novels - American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

    4

    American Psycho
    by Bret Easton Ellis

  • Read
    Essential New York Novels - The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem

    5

    The Fortress of Solitude
    by Jonathan Lethem

Essential New York Novels, recommended by Jay McInerney

The author of Bright Lights, Big City, Jay McInerney, tells us what changed after 9/11 and which books best capture the ambition, romance and creativity of New York. He chooses his list of  “essential New York novels”

    The best books on Cuba, recommended by Oscar Hijuelos

  • Read
    The best books on Cuba - Havana Red by Leonardo Padura

    1

    Havana Red
    by Leonardo Padura

  • Read
    The best books on Cuba - Learning to Die in Miami by Carlos Eire

    2

    Learning to Die in Miami
    by Carlos Eire

  • Read
    The best books on Cuba - Three Trapped Tigers by Guillermo Cabrera Infante

    3

    Three Trapped Tigers
    by Guillermo Cabrera Infante

  • Read
    The best books on Cuba - Aura by Carlos Fuentes

    4

    Aura
    by Carlos Fuentes

  • Read
    The best books on Cuba - Paradiso by Jose Lezama Lima

    5

    Paradiso
    by Jose Lezama Lima

The best books on Cuba, recommended by Oscar Hijuelos

In 2011, two years before his death, Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Oscar Hijuelos told us about books that evoke the land of his parents, from a noirish take on contemporary Havana to the cabaret scene of pre-Castro Cuba

    The best books on South African Fiction, recommended by Imraan Coovadia

  • Read
    The best books on South African Fiction - A World of Strangers by Nadine Gordimer

    1

    A World of Strangers
    by Nadine Gordimer

  • Read
    The best books on South African Fiction - Waiting for the Barbarians by JM Coetzee

    2

    Waiting for the Barbarians
    by JM Coetzee

  • Read
    The best books on South African Fiction - Welcome to Our Hillbrow by Phaswane Mpe

    3

    Welcome to Our Hillbrow
    by Phaswane Mpe

  • Read
    The best books on South African Fiction - Spud by John van de Ruit

    4

    Spud
    by John van de Ruit

  • Read
    The best books on South African Fiction - Portrait with Keys by Ivan Vladislavic

    5

    Portrait with Keys
    by Ivan Vladislavic

The best books on South African Fiction, recommended by Imraan Coovadia

The South African novelist gives us an unvarnished view of the writer’s life, and explains how literature told the story of apartheid and why comedy is the easiest way to talk about race

    John King recommends the best Latin American Novels

  • Read
    John King recommends the best Latin American Novels - Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges

    1

    Labyrinths
    by Jorge Luis Borges

  • Read
    John King recommends the best Latin American Novels - One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

    2

    One Hundred Years of Solitude
    by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

  • Read
    John King recommends the best Latin American Novels - Conversation in the Cathedral by Mario Vargas Llosa

    3

    Conversation in the Cathedral
    by Mario Vargas Llosa

  • Read
    John King recommends the best Latin American Novels - The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector

    4

    The Hour of the Star
    by Clarice Lispector

  • Read
    John King recommends the best Latin American Novels - 2666 by Roberto Bolaño

    5

    2666
    by Roberto Bolaño

John King recommends the best Latin American Novels

From magical realism to political upheaval, John King, Professor Emeritus at Warwick University, recommends five essential works of Latin American fiction – and reveals what Jorge Luis Borges was like in person.

    The best books on Classical Chinese Poetry, recommended by Qiu Xiaolong

  • Read
    The best books on Classical Chinese Poetry - A Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems by Arthur Waley & Qiu Xiaolong

    1

    A Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems
    by Arthur Waley & Qiu Xiaolong

  • Read
    The best books on Classical Chinese Poetry - Cold Mountain by Burton Watson

    2

    Cold Mountain
    by Burton Watson

  • Read
    The best books on Classical Chinese Poetry - Classical Chinese Poetry by David Hinton

    3

    Classical Chinese Poetry
    by David Hinton

  • Read
    The best books on Classical Chinese Poetry - Chinese Poetry by Wai-lim Yip

    4

    Chinese Poetry
    by Wai-lim Yip

  • Read
    The best books on Classical Chinese Poetry - Mountain Songs by Gary Flint

    5

    Mountain Songs
    by Gary Flint

The best books on Classical Chinese Poetry, recommended by Qiu Xiaolong

The translator, poet and author of the best-selling Inspector Chen series, Qiu Xiaolong, says there is no one road when it comes to translating Chinese poetry. He chooses five anthologies that capture its magic.

    The Best Tales of Soviet Russia, recommended by Robert Chandler

  • Read
    The Best Tales of Soviet Russia - The Russian Countess by Edith Sollohub

    1

    The Russian Countess
    by Edith Sollohub

  • Read
    The Best Tales of Soviet Russia - The Road by Vasily Grossman

    2

    The Road
    by Vasily Grossman

  • Read
    The Best Tales of Soviet Russia - The Russian Word’s Worth by Michele A Berdy

    3

    The Russian Word’s Worth
    by Michele A Berdy

  • Read
    The Best Tales of Soviet Russia - The Foundation Pit by Andrey Platonov & Robert Chandler (translator)

    4

    The Foundation Pit
    by Andrey Platonov & Robert Chandler (translator)

  • Read
    The Best Tales of Soviet Russia - Black Earth City by Charlotte Hobson

    5

    Black Earth City
    by Charlotte Hobson

The Best Tales of Soviet Russia, recommended by Robert Chandler

Robert Chandler, one of the best known translators of Russian literature, recommends some of his favourite tales of Soviet Russia. There’s the one about a dog in space and the one about the Soviet café which stocked nothing but champagne and Mars bars…

    The Greatest French Novels, recommended by David Bellos

  • Read
    The Greatest French Novels - Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

    1

    Les Misérables
    by Victor Hugo

  • Read
    The Greatest French Novels - La Cousine Bette by Honoré de Balzac

    2

    La Cousine Bette
    by Honoré de Balzac

  • Read
    The Greatest French Novels - La Vie mode d’emploi (Life A User’s Manual) by Georges Perec

    3

    La Vie mode d’emploi (Life A User’s Manual)
    by Georges Perec

  • Read
    The Greatest French Novels - Les Fleurs Bleues (Blue on Blue) by Raymond Queneau

    4

    Les Fleurs Bleues (Blue on Blue)
    by Raymond Queneau

  • Read
    The Greatest French Novels - Pseudo (Hocus Bogus) by Romain Gary

    5

    Pseudo (Hocus Bogus)
    by Romain Gary

The Greatest French Novels, recommended by David Bellos

Booker Prize-winning translator David Bellos says Les Misérables is the greatest novel of all time. When it came out, “it was an event bigger than the launch of Titanic and Avatar put together.” He picks the five greatest French novels.

    Edwidge Danticat on Haitian Literature

  • Read
    Edwidge Danticat on Haitian Literature - Love, Anger, Madness by Marie Vieux-Chauvet

    1

    Love, Anger, Madness
    by Marie Vieux-Chauvet

  • Read
    Edwidge Danticat on Haitian Literature - General Sun, My Brother by Jacques Stephen Alexis

    2

    General Sun, My Brother
    by Jacques Stephen Alexis

  • Read
    Edwidge Danticat on Haitian Literature - Memoir of an Amnesiac by Jan J Dominique

    3

    Memoir of an Amnesiac
    by Jan J Dominique

  • Read
    Edwidge Danticat on Haitian Literature - Anthologie Secrète by Ida Faubert

    4

    Anthologie Secrète
    by Ida Faubert

  • Read
    Edwidge Danticat on Haitian Literature - Masters of the Dew by Jacques Roumain

    5

    Masters of the Dew
    by Jacques Roumain

Edwidge Danticat on Haitian Literature

The acclaimed Haitian author chooses five must-reads from the riches of Haitian literature – including 19th-century poems by a ruler’s daughter.

    The best books on Understanding China, recommended by Xinran

  • Read
    The best books on Understanding China - Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin

    1

    Dream of the Red Chamber
    by Cao Xueqin

  • Read
    The best books on Understanding China - The Spirit of the Chinese People by Hung-ming Ku

    2

    The Spirit of the Chinese People
    by Hung-ming Ku

  • Read
    The best books on Understanding China - My Country and My People by Lin Yutang

    3

    My Country and My People
    by Lin Yutang

  • Read
    The best books on Understanding China - Explosions and Other Stories by Mo Yan

    4

    Explosions and Other Stories
    by Mo Yan

  • Read
    The best books on Understanding China - To Live by Yu Hua

    5

    To Live
    by Yu Hua

The best books on Understanding China, recommended by Xinran

What books should we read to understand China—its culture, its history? British-Chinese journalist, author and activist Xinran picks five to get started with, including the book believed by many to be the greatest Chinese novel ever written. (You can also read this interview in Chinese by clicking here.)

    Susan Abulhawa on Palestinian Writing

  • Read
    Susan Abulhawa on Palestinian Writing - My Father Was a Freedom Fighter by Ramzy Baroud

    1

    My Father Was a Freedom Fighter
    by Ramzy Baroud

  • Read
    Susan Abulhawa on Palestinian Writing - I Saw Ramallah by Mourid Barghouti

    2

    I Saw Ramallah
    by Mourid Barghouti

  • Read
    Susan Abulhawa on Palestinian Writing - In Search of Fatima by Ghada Karmi

    3

    In Search of Fatima
    by Ghada Karmi

  • Read
    Susan Abulhawa on Palestinian Writing - Palestinian Walks by Raja Shehadeh

    4

    Palestinian Walks
    by Raja Shehadeh

  • Read
    Susan Abulhawa on Palestinian Writing - Out of Place by Edward Said

    5

    Out of Place
    by Edward Said

Susan Abulhawa on Palestinian Writing

Acclaimed novelist and author of Mornings in Jenin chooses five books about Palestine by Palestinian writers. She says what she sees among the young people in Palestine is humbling, ‘they have such remarkable spirit’

    The Best Australian Novels, recommended by Nicholas Jose

  • Read
    The Best Australian Novels - Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by M Barnard Eldershaw

    1

    Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow
    by M Barnard Eldershaw

  • Read
    The Best Australian Novels - The Merry-Go-Round in the Sea by Randolph Stow

    2

    The Merry-Go-Round in the Sea
    by Randolph Stow

  • Read
    The Best Australian Novels - Bliss by Peter Carey

    3

    Bliss
    by Peter Carey

  • Read
    The Best Australian Novels - An Imaginary Life by David Malouf

    4

    An Imaginary Life
    by David Malouf

  • Read
    The Best Australian Novels - Carpentaria by Alexis Wright

    5

    Carpentaria
    by Alexis Wright

The Best Australian Novels, recommended by Nicholas Jose

Australia is a highly urban place and yet the imagination of its writers goes to remote places and times, says Australian novelist Nicholas Jose. He picks the best Australian novels.

    The best books on Pakistan, recommended by Daniyal Mueenuddin

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan - Mottled Dawn by Saadat Hasan Manto

    1

    Mottled Dawn
    by Saadat Hasan Manto

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan - Shame by Salman Rushdie

    2

    Shame
    by Salman Rushdie

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan - A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif

    3

    A Case of Exploding Mangoes
    by Mohammed Hanif

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan - A Sportsman’s Sketches by Ivan Turgenev

    4

    A Sportsman’s Sketches
    by Ivan Turgenev

  • Read
    The best books on Pakistan - The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

    5

    The Reluctant Fundamentalist
    by Mohsin Hamid

The best books on Pakistan, recommended by Daniyal Mueenuddin

Pakistani writer Daniyal Mueenuddin explains that if you live somewhere as stable as England it’s very difficult to understand how quickly things are changing in Pakistan

    The best books on Being White in Africa, recommended by Justin Cartwright

  • Read
    The best books on Being White in Africa - Anthills of the Savannah by Chinua Achebe

    1

    Anthills of the Savannah
    by Chinua Achebe

  • Read
    The best books on Being White in Africa - Disgrace by JM Coetzee

    2

    Disgrace
    by JM Coetzee

  • Read
    The best books on Being White in Africa - A Good Man in Africa by William Boyd

    3

    A Good Man in Africa
    by William Boyd

  • Read
    The best books on Being White in Africa - The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer

    4

    The Conservationist
    by Nadine Gordimer

  • Read
    The best books on Being White in Africa - Mister Johnson by Joyce Cary

    5

    Mister Johnson
    by Joyce Cary

The best books on Being White in Africa, recommended by Justin Cartwright

The award-winning novelist thinks Africans want to know how it is that white men have got their hands on all the money. He picks five books on what it means and meant to be white in Africa

    The best books on Diaspora, recommended by Ellah Allfrey

  • Read
    The best books on Diaspora - A Life Elsewhere by Segun Afolabi

    1

    A Life Elsewhere
    by Segun Afolabi

  • Read
    The best books on Diaspora - The Sparrow by Maria Doria Russell

    2

    The Sparrow
    by Maria Doria Russell

  • Read
    The best books on Diaspora - Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih

    3

    Season of Migration to the North
    by Tayeb Salih

  • Read
    The best books on Diaspora - The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan

    4

    The Kitchen God's Wife
    by Amy Tan

  • Read
    The best books on Diaspora - On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe

    5

    On Black Sisters Street
    by Chika Unigwe

The best books on Diaspora, recommended by Ellah Allfrey

Books are like men, you can be surprised by the ones you find cute, says the former deputy editor of Granta magazine. She recommends the best books from the Diaspora.

    Georgina Godwin on Memoirs of Zimbabwe

  • Read
    Georgina Godwin on Memoirs of Zimbabwe - Mukiwa by Peter Godwin

    1

    Mukiwa
    by Peter Godwin

  • Read
    Georgina Godwin on Memoirs of Zimbabwe - Rainbow's End by Lauren St John

    2

    Rainbow's End
    by Lauren St John

  • Read
    Georgina Godwin on Memoirs of Zimbabwe - Harare North by Brian Chikwava

    3

    Harare North
    by Brian Chikwava

  • Read
    Georgina Godwin on Memoirs of Zimbabwe - Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga

    4

    Nervous Conditions
    by Tsitsi Dangarembga

  • Read
    Georgina Godwin on Memoirs of Zimbabwe - House of Hunger by Dambudzo Marechera

    5

    House of Hunger
    by Dambudzo Marechera

Georgina Godwin on Memoirs of Zimbabwe

Via five engrossing memoirs, the Zimbabwe-born journalist Georgina Godwin talks wistfully about her country; amongst the older generation, she says, there is a feeling that Rhodesia was sold down the river by Britain and things needn’t have turned out the way they did.

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