A few years back, translator Jeremy Tiang stumbled upon an intriguing book of stories while exploring a bookstore in Singapore. This book, titled "Delicious Hunger," was penned in Chinese under a pseudonym by author Hai Fan, who chronicled his experiences as a guerrilla soldier with the Malayan Communist Party during his 13 years in the jungles of Malaysia and Thailand. Recognizing the challenges faced by such a niche work in securing an English-language publisher, Tiang submitted the manuscript to Tilted Axis, a distinct and bold British publisher known for its innovative, subversive, and experimental translated literature.
To Tiang's delight, Tilted Axis embraced the book, which was subsequently released in the UK last fall and honored with an English PEN Translates Award, marking a significant milestone as it became the first Singaporean work to ever receive this prestigious recognition. However, the journey to introduce "Delicious Hunger" to American readers proved more complicated. After submitting the manuscript to 29 different U.S. publishers, Tiang faced rejection from all.
His enthusiasm surged upon learning that Tilted Axis is set to broaden its reach into the North American market. This June, "Delicious Hunger" will be available in the U.S., as part of a launch featuring nearly twenty titles from Tilted Axis's eclectic catalogue, with the first set hitting shelves this month.
To Tiang's delight, Tilted Axis embraced the book, which was subsequently released in the UK last fall and honored with an English PEN Translates Award, marking a significant milestone as it became the first Singaporean work to ever receive this prestigious recognition. However, the journey to introduce "Delicious Hunger" to American readers proved more complicated. After submitting the manuscript to 29 different U.S. publishers, Tiang faced rejection from all.
His enthusiasm surged upon learning that Tilted Axis is set to broaden its reach into the North American market. This June, "Delicious Hunger" will be available in the U.S., as part of a launch featuring nearly twenty titles from Tilted Axis's eclectic catalogue, with the first set hitting shelves this month.
