Presenting Man Booker Int’l 2016 Winner, Kang’s ‘The Vegetarian’

South Koran novelist Han Kang’s book beat out literary darling Elena Ferrante to become the inaugural winner.

The proud winner (R) along with her translator Deborah Smith. (Photo: Twitter/Man Booker Prize)

Before my own words of context have had a chance to dull the glisten of this year’s literary find, have yourselves a glimpse of The Vegetarian.

South Korean writer Han Kang’s novella charts the unexpected, frightening consequences of a woman’s decision to take up vegetarianism, an almost unheard-of practice in her culture. The blurb describes it thus:

A novel about modern day South Korea, but also a novel about shame, desire and our faltering attempts to understand others, from one imprisoned body to another.

The intriguing book jacket. (Photo: Amazon India)

The Man Booker International Prize, which consists of $50,000 and epic bragging rights, is given to a single book in English translation and shared equally between author and translator.

This year’s 13 shortlisted nominees included Elena Ferrante, the mysterious author of the Neapolitan trilogy and a hot favourite of the literary world’s who’s who. Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk, nominated for A Strangeness in My Mind, also presented a formidable challenge, having established himself as a powerhouse on the international market.

Han Kang’s win, therefore, gives us not only an exciting new read to add to our summer lists but also a scrappy underdog story to love.