Exploring Global Narratives: A Roundup of Recent Translated Fiction
In the ever-expanding world of literature, translated fiction offers a unique window into diverse cultures and human experiences. This review roundup delves into four recent novels that have been masterfully translated into English, each providing a distinct perspective on life, community, and personal struggles. From the icy landscapes of the Russian Arctic to the bustling neighbourhoods of India, these stories captivate with their rich storytelling and emotional depth.
White Moss by Anna Nerkagi
Translated by Irina Sadovina and published by Pushkin Press at £12.99, White Moss transports readers to the nomadic Nenets communities of the Russian Arctic. The novel centres on Alyoshka, a young man whose mother urges him to find a wife, even if she is plain, as long as her hands and legs are not crooked. Alyoshka does marry, but he struggles to consummate the union, haunted by his love for a girl who departed for the city years earlier.
Through a series of vignettes, the narrative weaves through the camp, introducing characters like Petko and his friend Vanu, who ponder the challenges of ageing, and a newcomer who shares a harrowing tale of alcohol addiction, remarking, "The devil had entered my soul, and it was fun to be with him." Soviet representatives intermittently visit, intended to support the Nenets, but as one character notes, "They didn't stick, because strictly speaking there was nothing to stick to." This poignant exploration of a resilient community, where people instead stick with one another, serves as a heartwarming tale perfect for the winter season.
The Old Fire by Elisa Shua Dusapin
Translated by Aneesa Abbas Higgins and available from Daunt Books for £14.99, The Old Fire follows Agathe, a 30-year-old French woman residing in New York. Estranged from her sister Véra, Agathe receives a text message announcing "Papa's dead," to which she replies, "Who is this?" She returns to the family home in the Dordogne to assist in clearing out her father's belongings, observing, "If we set fire to the books, there'd be nothing left."
Relations remain strained; Véra communicates solely via text, having not spoken since the age of six. This novel is a meditation on absence and silence, depicted through closed village shops, deserted streets, and Agathe's unresponsive husband in the US. Written with a spare, apt style, Agathe mentions, "I'm following the advice of decluttering influencers," yet it is her past that she must confront. Slowly, the history of the family's disintegration unfolds, balancing revelation with lingering mystery, making this book both tantalising and deeply satisfying.
The Roof Beneath Their Feet by Geetanjali Shree
Translated by Rahul Soni and published by And Other Stories at £14.99, this novel is set in an Indian neighbourhood where interconnected roofs serve as alternative spaces for living, sleeping, and hiding, described as "not a roof but a sea." The narrator, Bitva, mourns the death of Chachcho, a maternal figure, and resents the presence of Chachcho's friend Lalna, accusing her, "You are driving Chachcho away by staying here."
The narrative delves into the characters' backstories, including a wealthy uncle from Hong Kong, Chachcho's husband's treatment of her, and sexist rumours about Lalna's promiscuity, with advice swirling, "take care of your sons!" A sudden shift to Lalna's perspective alters the understanding of events. The fluid structure, reflective of Lalna's statement that "my memories always start somewhere in the middle," can be challenging to follow, but this novel, though on a smaller scale than Shree's International Booker-winning Tomb of Sand, brims with exuberance and inventiveness.
Berlin Shuffle by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz
Translated by Philip Boehm and released by Pushkin Press for £18.99, Berlin Shuffle is the debut novel by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz, who died in 1942 at age 27. Following the rediscovered success of his novel The Passenger, this work offers a cynical, humorous account of down-and-out Berlin in the 1920s, where individuals are "caught under the wheels of life."
The story features characters like greengrocer Schreiber, who rents his basement to a trio of tramps, including Tönnchen, whose childhood hunger fuels a food obsession; Grissmann, who lost his job to mechanisation, noting "machines made all problems seem splendidly solvable"; and Wilhelm, a petty criminal turned pimp who initially found the idea of living off prostitutes disgusting but "with time and money, he came round to the idea." Despite the grim circumstances, this lively book moves lightly on its feet, albeit rougher around the edges than The Passenger, culminating in a fittingly explosive conclusion that underscores the era's tumultuous nature.
