Padma Viswanathan brings Brazilian Novella to global spotlight with Booker shortlist nod

Canadian-American writer of Indian origin Padma Viswanathan has been shortlisted for the prestigious International Booker Prize 2026 as the English translator of a Portuguese-language novella.

Viswanathan earned the recognition for translating On Earth As It Is Beneath , written by Brazilian author Ana Paula Maia . The novella has been described by the judging panel as a “brutal, haunting and hypnotic” work set in a remote Brazilian penal colony, exploring blurred lines between justice and cruelty.

The annual International Booker Prize honours a single work of translated fiction , either a novel or a short story collection, written in a language other than English and published in the UK or Ireland. The award carries a total prize money of GBP 50,000 , which is equally divided between the author and the translator , highlighting the critical role of translation in global literature. Additionally, each of the six shortlisted titles receives GBP 5,000 , also split between the author and translator.

This year’s shortlist features six contenders from across the world, representing eight countries including Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany, Taiwan, the UK and the United States. The list is notably dominated by women, with five of the six authors and four of the six translators being female.

Other shortlisted works include The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar , translated by Ruth Martin ; She Who Remains by Rene Karabash , translated by Izidora Angel ; The Director by Daniel Kehlmann , translated by Ross Benjamin ; Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zi , translated by Lin King ; and The Witch by Marie Ndiaye , translated by Jordan Stump .

Chair of the judging panel Natasha Brown said the selected works span decades of history while exploring themes of hardship, isolation and resilience, ultimately leaving a powerful and energising impact.

The winner of the 2026 International Booker Prize will be announced on May 19 at a ceremony at Tate Modern in London.

Last year, the prize was awarded to Kannada writer Banu Mushtaq and translator Deepa Bhasthi for the short story collection Heart Lamp, marking a historic win as the first Kannada work to receive the honour.