The novel “Solenoid” of the Romanian writer Mircea Cărtărescu was included on the long list of the prestigious International Boooer Prize 2025. Translated into English by Sean Cotter, the novel competes for the prize of 50,000 pounds, an amount that will be divided between the author and the translator.
The novel “Solenoid” by Mircea Cărtărescu, on the long list of the International Booker Prize. Photo: Archive
Mircea Cărtărescu becomes the first Romanian writer nominated on the long list of the International Booker Prize due to his solenoid novel, translated by Sean Cotter, informs The Guardian. The action of the book takes place in the Communist Bucharest from the end of the 1970s and early 1980s, having as its starting point the diarrhea of a teacher. From here, the narrative turns into an existentialist and surrealist exploration of alternative realities.
The novel was already rewarded in May 2024 with Dublin Literary Award, worth 100,000 euros, thus confirming its international impact.
This year’s selection includes 13 writers at the first nomination, and the translator Sophie Hughes is noted by the fifth presence on this list due to the English version of the novel Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico.
The winner will receive a prize of 50,000 pounds, an amount equally divided between the author and the translator. In addition, the 2025 edition marks a premiere: 12 of the 13 titles come from independent publishers.
Max Porter, the president of the jury, stressed that this year’s selection is one “offbeat“, Which reflects the diversity and complexity of the modern world:”There are books that talk about the agony of the family, the place of work or of the national state policy, about the almost spiritual secret of friendship, the inner architecture of the erotic feeling, the banality of capitalism and the mobilization of faith ”he said.
The short list, which will include only six titles, will be announced on April 8, and the winner will be appointed on May 20, during a ceremony organized at the Modern Tate Museum in London.
Last year, the International Booker award was won by the writer Jenny Erpenbeck and translator Michael Hofmann for the novel Kairos. Previous laureates are Olga Tokarczk, Lucas Rijneveld and Han Kang.
