Kadare is nominated for “Independent foreign fiction prize”

TIRANA, Jan.31- The well-known Albanian writer, Ismail Kadare is in the list of the nominees for the “Independent foreign fiction prize”. Among 19 works presented for this prize Kadare’s book “The daughter of Agamemnon” is one of the works that ahs been translated into English. The British media claims that Kadare could as well win this prize that is sponsored by “Arts Council England”. Head of literary strategy department of the council Antonia Byatt has expressed the joy at seeing a long list representing qualitative translations tat make the foreign literature accessible in her country. She also added that this will make the jury’s work more difficult. Kadare has won the “Man Booker International prize”, and this is the second time he participates in a major contest in the UK. “The daughter of Agamemnon” was published by “Canongate” last year with a translation of David Bellos. Other interesting nominees include the Arab bestseller “The Yacoubian Building” from Alaa al Aswany, the brutal jealousy story “The Moon Opera” of Bi Feiyu and the Dutch “Omega Minor” of Paul Verhaeghen. The prize is 10.000 pounds. The panel of the jury is comprised by literary editor of the “Independent” magazine, Boyd Tonkin, the writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, literary editor of “Le Monde”, Florence Noiville and literature offices of the Arts Council, Kate Griffin. The winner will be announced during a ceremony that will be held on May 8, in London.