The 2025 International Booker Prize longlist has been announced, featuring Palestinian author Ibtisam Azem’s novel, The Book of Disappearance, translated by Sinan Antoon. This marks a significant achievement, as all 13 longlisted authors are first-time nominees, with 12 of the works published by independent presses.
Azem’s novel presents a compelling narrative imagining a world where Palestinians suddenly vanish, leaving behind only traces of their existence and a thought-provoking mystery. The story delves into themes of identity, history, and the impact of absence.
The 2025 longlist showcases translations from 10 original languages, including Kannada and Romanian for the first time. Notable entries include Mircea Cărtărescu’s Solenoid, translated by Sean Cotter, and Banu Mushtaq’s Heart Lamp, translated by Deepa Bhasthi.
The judging panel, chaired by author Max Porter, selected the longlist from 154 submitted works translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland between May 1, 2024, and April 30, 2025. The shortlist will be announced on April 8, with the winner revealed on May 20 at London’s Tate Modern.
This recognition of The Book of Disappearance highlights the growing appreciation for diverse narratives in translated literature, bringing Palestinian stories to a broader audience.
