Asia Society presented the Outstanding Translated Literature from Chinese Language Award, part of its inaugural Baifang Shell Book Prize, to author Yang Shuang-zi and translator Lin King for their novel “Taiwan Travelogue” in New York on Monday.
The judges praised the novel for its nuanced literary craft and sensuous culinary descriptions, noting that it subverts conventional notions of friendship and love by gradually revealing the complexities of the colonial experience.
In a pre-recorded video, Yang said she hoped to present the novel in a more light-hearted and lively style, portraying the inner journey of the Taiwanese people and the paths they choose to follow after postcolonial rule. She expressed hope that readers might be inspired to visit Taiwan after reading the book.
At the award ceremony, King stated that the novel addresses serious themes such as imperialism, colonization, gender, and racial discrimination. However, she noted that Yang conveys this painful history through the elements of food, romance, and humor. According to King, the novel reminds readers that history is composed of the subtle details of everyday life and is rarely one-dimensional. In the context of colonialism or wartime, she added, sweetness can, in fact, intensify the bitterness of memory.
The Baifang Book Prize was established in tribute to Liu Baifang Schell, the late wife of Orville Schell, Director of Asia Society’s Center on U.S.-China Relations, to honor distinguished works that promote global understanding of the Sinophone world.