A Czech translation of Northwest Rain (西北雨), a novel by Taiwanese author Tung Wei-ge (童偉格), has been shortlisted for the 2024 Josef Jungmann Prize, the Czech Literary Translators’ Guild (CLTG) announced earlier this month.
The novel is among 25 works selected from nearly 90 entries submitted in 24 different languages. It is the only Chinese-language work to make the shortlist, according to the CLTG’s announcement on May 14.
Established in 1991, the Josef Jungmann Prize is widely regarded as the Czech Republic’s most prestigious award for literary translation. Named after the 19th-century linguist and translator Josef Jungmann, the prize recognizes excellence in translating foreign-language literature into Czech. The winner of the 2024 prize will be revealed on Sept. 30, which marks International Translation Day.
The Czech edition of Northwest Rain was translated by Pavlína Krámská and published by Mí:Lù Publishing. The company’s founder, Tomáš Řízek, described the nomination as a significant honor and praised Krámská for her exceptional translation work.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture, Tung’s novel uses narrative techniques such as rewinding, repetition, skipping, and delaying to reconstruct fragmented memories of death and family history.
Born in 1977 in what is now the Wanli District of New Taipei, Tung Wei-ge is currently a professor at the Taipei National University of the Arts. His writing frequently explores themes of mortality and memory.
