Taiwan Travelogue
| Author | Yang Shuang-zi |
|---|---|
| Original title | 臺灣漫遊錄 |
| Translator | Lin King |
| Language | Taiwanese Mandarin,Taiwanese Hokkien,Taiwanese Hakka, Japanese |
| Publisher | Graywolf Press |
Publication date | 2020 |
| Awards | Golden Tripod Award Best Translation Award National Book Award for Translated Literature |
| ISBN | 978-1-64445-315-5 |
Taiwan Travelogue (Chinese: 臺灣漫遊錄) is a 2021 novel by Taiwanese writer Yang Shuang-zi. It was published in 2020 in Taiwan.[1]
In 2021, the novel received the Golden Tripod Award.[2]
An English translation by Lin King was published by Graywolf Press in 2024.[3] In 2024, this won the US National Book Award for Translated Literature. It is the first Taiwanese book to win the award.[4] In February 2026, it was longlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize.[5][6]
A German translation by Karin Betz is forthcoming.[7]
Synopsis
Presented as a memoir of the fictional Japanese writer Aoyama Chizuko, the novel tells the story of Chizuko's year in Taiwan, then a Japanese colonial island in 1938. In Taiwan, Chizuko develops a complex relationship with her interpreter Ō Chizuru, who introduces her to local Taiwanese cuisine through their travels around the island.[3][2]
Reception
The English translation of the book has been well received in India following its October 2025 introduction into that market. Many readers see similarities between India and Taiwan's colonial pasts.[8]
References
- ^ Habib, Shahnaz (2024-11-15). "A Translation of a Translation of a Novel Within a Novel". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
- ^ a b "閱讀隨身聽．特集》作家楊双子／金鼎獎獲獎作《臺灣漫遊錄》ft.很多（台式）小吃". Openbook閱讀誌 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Jan 19, 2022.
- ^ a b "Taiwan Travelogue by Shuang-Zi Yang". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved Jun 10, 2025.
- ^ Liao, Tony; Yen-hsiang, Chao (May 24, 2025). "'Taiwan Travelogue' U.S. editor surprised by its success". Focus Taiwan - CNA English News.
- ^ "The International Booker Prize 2026". The Booker Prizes. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ Creamer, Ella (24 February 2026). "Witches, Nazi collaborators and banned books: International Booker prize announces 2026 longlist". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ Lin, Shang-ying; Lee, Chieh-yu (27 January 2026). "INTERVIEW/Translator Karin Betz introduces Taiwanese literature to German readers". Central News Agency. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
- ^ Chin-wei, Lee; Hsin-Yin, Lee. "Taiwanese novel prompts reflection on colonial past among Indian readers". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 9 November 2025.