New Delhi, April 3 — Canadian-American author Padma Viswanathan of Indian origin has secured a spot in the race for the 2026 International Booker Prize as the English translator of a Portuguese novel. The work, 'On Earth as It Is Beneath' by Brazilian author Ana Paula Maia, has been described by the jury as a brutal, poignant, and compelling novella set in a remote Brazilian colony where the boundaries between justice and cruelty are blurred.
As per agency report, this novel is among six contenders worldwide for the prestigious literary honor. The annual award of £50,000, which is equally divided between the author and translator, was won last year by Kannada writer Banu Mushtaq and translator Deepa Bhasti for the short story collection 'Heart Lamp'. Each selected book is set to receive a £5,000 prize, shared equally between the book's author and the English translator.
The list announced on Tuesday features a strong representation of women, with five out of six authors and four out of six translators being female. These authors and translators represent eight countries: Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany, Taiwan, the UK, and the USA. The winning book will be announced on May 19 at a ceremony held at Tate Modern in London.
