The West-Coast-based PEN Center USA has just announced its 2016 literary award winners, including in the category of literary translation. This year’s prize goes to Stephen Kessler for his translation of Forbidden Pleasures by Luis Cernuda (Black Widow Press). Three runners-up have also been named as a longlist:
Jessica Powell, Woman In Battle Dress by Antonio Benítez-Rojo (City Lights)
Anastas Kapurani and Wayne Miller, Zodiac by Moikom Zeqo (Zephyr Press)
Dan Bellm, Description of a Flash of Cobalt Blue by Jorge Esquinca (Unicorn Press)
This year’s panel of judges included Hélène Cardona, Hilary Kaplan, and André Naffis-Sahely. Congratulations to all the translators whose work was honored!
What a well-deserved honor. “Forbidden Pleasures” is a great read!