How supranational literary prizes shape translation flows

Abstract

Abstract This article explores how literary prizing shapes translation flows by comparing bibliographic data on the translations of prize-winning books. It focuses on two prizes in particular, the Booker Prize and the European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL), both of which generate significant numbers of translations but for very different reasons. The article develops the idea of ‘prizing logics’ to help explain these differences, singling out factors that appear to play a role: (1) the prize’s translation policy (especially important for the EUPL) and (2) the prize’s prestige and focus on commercial success (particularly relevant for the Booker). It shows that translations of EUPL winners are largely a result of state support, which is linked to the prize’s aim of spreading European diversity and reinforcing unity through literature, while the Booker is more focused on literary quality and stimulating commercial success, thereby leading to many translations of its winners.