35 best translated novels published in Russia

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Significant foreign works, selected by critics and translators.

All these novels were included in the long list of the Foreign Literature nomination of the Yasnaya Polyana Prize in 2018. This nomination was introduced in 2015 and since then has been considered a navigator in the field of modern foreign literature. The list of nominees is drawn up by influential literary critics, translators and publishers. The name of the laureate will be announced in October, but in the meantime you can familiarize yourself with the works.

1. "American", Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche (Nigeria)

The third novel by a Nigerian writer explores what it is like to be an educated African woman in America today. It's a thoughtful, sometimes funny exploration of homesickness, adaptation, relationships, and returning home. In 2013, the novel received the prestigious US literary award, the National Critics' Award.

2. "Ines of my soul", Isabel Allende (Chile)

The historical novel of the famous Latin American writer tells about the life of the Spanish woman Ines Suarez, who sailed with her husband to Latin America. The events unfold during the period of the Spanish conquest of 1537-1555. After the heroic death of her husband in battle, the woman loses everything, but soon her life takes on new meaning thanks to the fateful meeting. This is a novel about adventure, exploits and selfless love.

3. "The Navel of the Earth", Venko Andonovsky (Macedonia)

The novel brought the author the "Book of the Year" and "Balkanika" awards. The work is a posthumous publication of accidentally found manuscripts and consists of two parts. The first part is the historical writings of a Byzantine monk, the second is a sentimental story of a contemporary in love with a girl. This is a fascinating, masterly written novel about eternal questions: where did we come from and what is the meaning of life.

4. "A Story of Solitude" by John Boyne (Ireland)

The story of an Irish priest who witnessed the moral fall of the Catholic Church and his attempts to find the cause of the tragedy. The crisis of faith forces the protagonist to reconsider his life and find the origins of what happened. The novel raises questions of responsibility, faith and self-sacrifice. The action takes place at the beginning of the XXI century. The plot is based on real events.

5. "Mr. K. Free", Matei Vishnek (Romania)

An intellectual novel about the consequences of a totalitarian regime was written in 1988, but was published 20 years later. The work is a kind of continuation of Franz Kafka's novel "The Trial", in which the main character is released from prison. Just what to do with this freedom, Kozef J. does not know. This is a witty and unhurried piece that is definitely worth reading.

6. "Vegetarian", Han Gan (South Korea)

The novel about patriarchal South Korean society and the place of women in it has earned the author the Booker Prize and international recognition. The work consists of three parts, written by different storytellers. The plot revolves around Yonghe's meek and obedient wife, who becomes a vegetarian. A trivial decision leads to tragic consequences for which none of the characters are ready.

7. "Everything I Didn't Say", Celeste Ing (USA)

The debut novel by a Chinese-American writer won the Book of the Year award from Amazon. The story follows an ordinary 1970s American family struggling to cope with the sudden death of their daughter Lydia. This is a sensitive novel about childhood traumas, inability to share feelings and the tragic consequences of silence.

8. "The Buried Giant", Kazuo Ishiguro (Great Britain)

The latest novel of the Nobel laureate takes the reader to medieval England after the reign of King Arthur. In the center of the plot are the elderly spouses Axel and Beatrice, who went in search of their son, whom they had not seen for many years. The work, written in the fantasy genre, touches upon the themes of memory and oblivion, revenge, love and forgiveness.

9. "I Confess" by Jaume Cabre (Spain)

A multifaceted story about the life of the scientist and genius Andria Ardevola, told by him in his old age. The plot revolves around an antique shop inherited from his parents and the legendary Storioni violin, which became a curse for the whole family. The novel raises the themes of the relationship between parents and children, faith, love and evil.

10. "Flesh and Blood", Michael Cunningham (USA)

A heartfelt story of European migrants who managed to break out into the middle class, and their children and grandchildren, trying to find themselves in a consumer society. The narrative covers the period from 1935 to 2035. This novel, written by the winner of the Pulitzer Prize, tells about love and unhappiness, affection and confrontation between man and the world.

11. "F", Daniel Kelmann (Germany)

"F" is the first letter of the surname of the main characters of the novel, the male half of the Friedland family. The action takes place in Germany from 1984 to 2012. Twins Eric and Ivain Friedland, their half-brother Martin and father Arthur go to the hypnotist performance, which is fatally reflected in their lives.

12. "Villa Amalia", Pascal Quignard (France)

A novel by the Goncourt Prize laureate about the beauty of loneliness, liberation from the hustle and bustle and dedication to art. In the center of the story is the composer Anna Hidden, who left everything at 47 in order to write music.

13. "Girls", Emma Kline (USA)

This is the debut novel about growing up, feminism, teenage fears and trauma that haunt a lifetime. The action takes place in 1969 in sunny California. 14-year-old Evie Boyd joins the sect commune ruled by the charismatic leader Russell and miraculously escapes prison. The plot refers to the history of Charles Manson's "Family" sect.

14. "Benevolent", Jonathan Littell (France)

The 902-page historical novel won the Accademia Grand Prize and the Goncourt Prize. The narration is conducted on behalf of SS officer Maximilian Aue and covers the period from the outbreak of hostilities in the Soviet Union in 1941 until the fall of Berlin. This is a study about the Holocaust and how an ordinary person turns into a murderer.

15. American Rust, Philip Mayer (USA)

A saga about modern America and the lost American dream, written in the spirit of John Steinbeck or William Faulkner. The main characters are promising Isaac English and his friend Pou, an athlete with a great sporting future. Young people want to leave the abandoned town, but life disposes of it differently. This is a dark story about self-doubt and how circumstances sometimes turn out to be stronger than us.

16. "'I' means 'hawk'", Helen McDonald (UK)

A detailed autobiographical novel about love, grief and making sense. Helen tries to recover from her father's death and has a goshawk named Mabel. The heroine, admired by the bird, spends all her strength to tame it and find a new feathered friend.

17. “When I Was Real,” Tom McCarthy (UK)

A novel about finding oneself and a lost identity. The protagonist is a young Londoner who received £ 8,5 million in compensation after the disaster. In order to reconstruct the events of the past in as much detail as possible, the hero hires special performers. However, on the way to finding his real self, he goes too far.

18. Atonement, Ian McEwan (UK)

A story about love, the role of a writer and mistakes, for which you have to pay your whole life. The events unfold in pre-war England, the main characters are the daughters of a wealthy politician Cecilia and Briony, as well as Robbie, the son of their former gardener. The story is told on behalf of her sister Cecilia, who dreams of becoming a writer.

19. "Curiositas. Curiosity ", Alberto Mangel (Argentina, Canada, France)

The human mind is inquisitive, we constantly ask ourselves and the world around us questions. In this book, the author tries to unravel the nature of human curiosity through the prism of the great texts of Dante Alighieri, Plato, Thomas Aquinas, Lewis Carroll, Franz Kafka, Primo Levi and others.

20. "God Save My Child", Toni Morrison (USA)

A novel by a Nobel laureate and one of the most famous African American women writers. Events are unfolding in our days in the United States. The central theme is the relationship between mother and child. This is a gentle and sometimes shocking story of love, cruelty and trauma.

21. Home, Toni Morrison (USA)

In the center of the plot is a dysfunctional black family who fled from racist Texas to Georgia. The author talks about the problems of post-war America, the cruelty and wounds that the war leaves.

22. "Book of Memories", Peter Nadash (Hungary)

A multifaceted novel about how human character is formed in difficult political conditions. Events are taking place in Budapest and Berlin. In the manner of narration, the author continues the tradition of Marcel Proust and Thomas Mann.

23. "Judas", Amos Oz (Israel)

The novel, reflecting the philosophical, political and religious views of the writer, plunges into the mysterious atmosphere of old Jerusalem. Events unfold in 1960. The main character is the eternal student Shmuel Ash, who goes in search of dust-free work. This is a complex and mysterious story about how evil goes hand in hand with good in any person.

24. "Fima", Amos Oz (Israel)

The most Russian novel of an Israeli classic: the manner of Gogol and Chekhov is clearly guessed in it, and the main character resembles Oblomov. This is a story about a generation capable of dreaming but not willing to act.

25. Pax, Sarah Pennipaker, USA

Children's book about the boy Peter and his fox Pax. A piercing and sincere story about truth and lies, the meaninglessness of war, the fragility of nature, loyalty to oneself and the ability to empathize.

26. “Time to Leave the Horses”, Per Petterson (Norway)

The story is told from the perspective of an elderly man named Trond, who recalls his childhood and his father. In the center of the plot is a love triangle that destroys two families. In 2007, the novel was included in the top ten books by The New York Times Book Review.

27. The Fall of Stone, Ian Pearce (UK)

An investigation novel with a twisted plot about the ascent to the top of the financial pyramid. The story is told on behalf of three professional liars: a reporter for a popular publication, a secret service agent and a financial tycoon. The action takes place in 1909, 1890 and 1867.

28. Gilead, Marilyn Robinson (USA)

The main theme of the novel is religion and faith in the modern world. The action takes place in the city of Gilead, Iowa in 1956. The story is framed as a monologue by 76-year-old Congregational Priest John Ames to his youngest son.

29. Swing Time by Zadie Smith (UK)

A melancholic novel about personal failure, described with an understanding of the intricacies of human psychology. The heroine of the novel is an educated girl who decided to join the world of pop culture. The book shows how a person is left alone with himself, and the choice does not bring satisfaction.

30. “On the example of a brother”, Uwe Timm (Germany)

The novel is a study about the writer's brother who volunteered for the SS division and the atrocities of war. The author raises the problem of the collective responsibility of the Germans for the atrocities of the Nazis and tries to understand how propaganda works. This is a cruel book about the formation of evil and the connection between the state and the individual.

31. Here I Am, Jonathan Foer (USA)

A large-scale story about an American family facing a tragedy. The earthquake in the Middle East and the growing military conflict lead to a catastrophe within the seemingly ideal family. This is a confession novel about loneliness, unresolved conflicts and how the general and the personal are connected.

32. Sinlessness by Jonathan Franzen (USA)

A personal, subtle and monumental novel about the connection between the personal and the political, feminism, loneliness and madness. The main character is 23-year-old Pip, or Purity, who grew up without a father with a hysterical mother and is trying to find herself in a hostile world.

33. "She / He", Botho Strauss (Germany)

A subtle and touching collection of stories dedicated to the relationship between a man and a woman. Each plot combines the comic and the tragic. The book will appeal to fans of Milan Kundera and William Saroyan.

34. "Litter", Margaret Atwood (Canada)

A collection of bold and ironic stories from the Booker Prize laureate, dedicated to the decline of human life. Each story immerses the reader in a special fantastic atmosphere.

35. “I saw her that night”, Jančar Drago (Slovenia)

Veronika Zarnik, a young aristocrat and the first female aviator in Slovenia, tries to go against social norms and then mysteriously disappears. The novel consists of five chapters, each of which deals with a version of her fate, life and death. This is a story about inequality and war.