Asia, the largest and most populated continent in the world, spans 44.6 million km2 and represents 8.7% of the Earth’s total surface and 30% of its land surface. It is home to 4.7 billion people, accounting for 59% of the world’s population. Asia consists of 51 countries and 6 dependencies, Hong Kong being the most well-known.

Furthermore, Asia is considered the cradle of many civilizations, including,  Mesopotamia, Ancient India and Ancient China, among others. More than 2300 languages are spoken in this vast territory, such as Chinese (the most spoken language in the world, with more than 1.0 billion people living in China); Hindi and Urdu (the former is India’s official language, and the latter is spoken in Pakistan and India); Arabic (the official language of several countries in the Middle East and North Africa, and Islam’s liturgical language); Bengali, Russian, Japanese and Persian. 

As a result, Asian literature portraits immense diversity through a wide array of literary expressions, styles and genres. The main features of Asian literature include the preservation of oral tradition, religious and spiritual influences, the use of  symbolism and allegory, epic storytelling and the fusion of the old and the new. 

As Asia harbors countless languages and dialects, translation plays a key role in the dissemination of Asian literature throughout the world. On this trip—as we did in Fiction, poetry, politics, and meditation: the cultural map of Asia’s most translated literature—we will explore some of the most translated books of this rich and mysterious continent. 

 

 

 The Book of Contemplation: Islam and the Crusades is a book written by Arab-Syrian writer Usama Ibn Munqidh, which offers a perspective on the Crusades through Muslim eyes. The book is considered a significant contribution to understanding the medieval holy wars between Christians and Muslims, as it gathers a comprehensive account from eyewitness of these military-religious conflicts fought during the Middle Ages. 

 The book has been translated into more than 10 languages. 

 

 

Suddenly, a Knock on the Door is a collection of brief— yet resounding—stories featuring endearing characters as well as hilarious and puzzling situations by Israeli author Etgar Keret.  Filled with humor, sadness, compassion, but above all, a profound sense of the absurdity in life, the stories in this book—considered Keret’s best accomplished work so far—have earned him the reputation as one of the most original writers of his generation. The book has been translated into more than 10 languages. 

 

 

The Blind Owl is a major literary work of 20th-century Iran. It is the prose masterpiece by writer and translator Sadeq Hedayat. 

Originally written in Persian, the story follows an unnamed narrator who grapples with the growing sense of alienation and despair in a society he finds decadent and oppressive.

 As the main character drifts into despair, he encounters surrealistic imagery, often accompanied by the blind owl, which becomes the central symbol of existential anguish.

The book, which has been translated into more than 8 languages, has become a cornerstone of existential literature and has influenced generations of Persian and foreign writers.

 

 

 

The Crossing: A Story of East Timor is a book by Luis Cardoso, one of the most recognized Timorese writers.

The book is a memoir based on the author’s childhood in Atauro Island into his teenage years at the seminary, to finally join other Timorese students in Lisbon. The title of the book alludes to the dangerous and sometimes deadly journey that Timorese people must undertake to escape the violence and repression of the Indonesian regime. As such, this crusade becomes a symbol of the determination of Timorese people in the search for a better future. 

The book, published in 2002, has been translated into more than 8 languages.

 

  

 

The Tears of My Soul is the autobiography of Kim Hyon-hui, a former North Korean agent known for planting the bomb on board Korean Air Flight 858.

In her memoirs, Kim tells the story of how she was trained as a spy and assigned a mission given by Kim Jong-il to blow up a South Korean airliner. The book details her early training and life as a party member in Macau, Hainan, and across Europe; her terrorist act; and her subsequent trial, amnesty, and integration into South Korean society.

The book has been translated into more than 8 languages. 

 

 

 

I Killed Scheherazade: Confessions of an Angry Arab Woman is a provocative and introspective literary book by renowned Lebanon writer Joumana Haddad. Through this collection of essays, Haddad weaves a challenging narrative that addresses crucial issues in the life of contemporary Arab women and offers a personal and passionate view of identity, sexuality and fight for sex equality in the Arabian world. The title of the book alludes to the iconic narrator of One Thousand and One Nights.  Joumana Haddad owns the figure of Sherezade, often a symbol of female submission, to challenge and shatter the stereotypes and gender expectations that are rooted deeply in Arabian society. 

The book has been translated into more than 7 languages. 

 

 

 

Poems by Faiz is a collection of poems by well-renowned Pakistani poet Ahmed Faiz, considered one of the most prominent 20th century poets in Urdu writing.

His work, which is mainly based on human and social experience, has resonated both nationally and internationally because of Faiz’s lyrical voice, passion and commitment to social justice, equality and freedom.

Faiz’s poetry deals with a wide range of issues, from love and nostalgia to social criticism and politics. His verses explore the complexities of life, the struggles of the oppressed and the pursuit of a fairer world.

 The book has been translated into more than 7 languages. 

 

From the Land of Green Ghosts is a book written by Burmese writer Pascal Khoo Thwe. The book tells the author’s life and experience as a member of the Padaung ethnicity. It also portrays the political persecution and escape from his home country and his search for refuge in the United Kingdom.

The book is a moving and touching narrative of the history and culture of Burma (currently known as Myanmar), as well as the author’s personal struggle for freedom and identity. The book’s evocative prose has been widely praised, as well as its ability to transport readers to a different world. The book has been translated into more than 7 languages. 

 

Mass is a 1973 historical and political novel written by Filipino writer Francisco Sionil José, winner of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts in 1980.  The book is part of “The Rosales Saga,” together with Po-on (1984), Tree (1978), My Brother, My Executioner (1973) and The Pretenders (1962).

In his book, the author introduces a unique perspective on Manila and the Philippine society through its main character, a young man forced to study in college, but who ends up in an institution that fakes diplomas after using up all the money for his tuition. 

 The book has been translated into more than 7 languages.