Mohsin Hamid's novel shortlisted for International Literary Award

Published June 20, 2014
Moshin Hamid (R) reads from his book 'How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia' at the Lahore Literary Festival 2013 . – Photo by Sara Faruqi/Dawn.com
Moshin Hamid (R) reads from his book 'How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia' at the Lahore Literary Festival 2013 . – Photo by Sara Faruqi/Dawn.com

Pakistani writer Mohsin Hamid's latest novel, "How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia", has been shortlisted for Germany's International Literature Award.

"I'm thrilled for 'How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia' to be shortlisted," Hamid told Dawn.

The International Literary Award is the biggest prize for foreign literature that has been translated into German. This year 81 participating German-language publishers submitted a total of 154 titles, whose authors hail from 64 countries and write in 27 languages.

"How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia" has been translated by German translator Eike Schönfeld.

"Germany has a vibrant literary culture. I believe translators are enormously important, and it makes me very happy to see my excellent German translator Eike Schönfeld being recognised for his work on the novel as well," said Hamid.

A jury of literature critics, translators, culture journalists, and authors reviewed the nominated books. A total of six books, including "How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia," have been shortlisted for the prize.

The criteria for the award are to select the year's best work of fiction translated into German, revealing how world literature is evolving today.

The International Literature Award is accompanied by €25,000 for the winning author and €10,000 for the winning translator.

The winner will be announced later next week and the shortlisted authors and winners will be honoured at a ceremony in Berlin on July 3.

Hamid is also the author of the novels 'Moth Smoke' and 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist'. His book, 'How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia', also won Italy's Terzani Prize for International Literature last month.

Opinion

The Dar story continues

The Dar story continues

One wonders what the rationale was for the foreign minister — a highly demanding, full-time job — being assigned various other political responsibilities.

Editorial

Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.
All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...