Taiwan Travelogue By Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, Translated by Lin King

STEP INTO THE COMPLEX, ENCHANTING, AND INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE 2026 WINNING MASTERPIECE THAT BLENDS HISTORICAL SLEIGHT OF HAND WITH CULINARY WONDER.

“Complex, enchanting and heartbreaking in equal measures. Taiwan Travelogue beautifully explores the challenges of love and friendship across an inherent power imbalance.” — The International Booker Prize 2026 Judges

It is May 1938. A young Japanese novelist, Aoyama Chizuko, has sailed from Nagasaki and arrived in Taiwan, invited by the colonial government. Having zero interest in official banquets or imperialist propaganda, Chizuko craves authentic island life and as much local cuisine as her famous appetite can handle.

Enter Chizuru—a brilliant, meticulous Taiwanese woman slightly younger than Chizuko who shares the very characters of her name. Hired as her interpreter, Chizuru arranges travels across the Land of the South while doubling as an exceptional cook. Amid scenic train rides, steaming bowls of braised pork rice, lively banter, and winter melon tea, Chizuko grows infatuated with her companion. Yet, a mysterious barrier keeps Chizuru at a distance—a painful truth that only becomes clear after a heartbreaking separation.

Originally published in Mandarin Chinese in 2020 to immense sensation, this dazzling novel unburies lost colonial histories and masterfully exposes how political power dynamics quietly shape our most intimate bonds.

Why this book is a must-have:

• Prestigious Award Winner: Winner of the International Booker Prize 2026 and the National Book Award for Translated Literature 2024.

• Exquisite Historical Fiction: Cleverly structured as a translated rediscovered text, offering a fascinating glimpse into 1930s colonial Taiwan.

• Rich Sensory Experience: Brims with vibrant descriptions of authentic regional cuisine, travel, and cultural discovery.

• Essential Literary Masterpiece: A profound, beautifully translated exploration of love, power, and identity that belongs on every serious fiction lover's shelf.

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