A Brazilian, Ana Paula Maia, is nominated for the 2026 International Booker Prize alongside an Argentine author, making her one of the few Latin Americans on the list dominated by European authors.
The 2026 International Booker Prize longlist features Brazilian author Ana Paula Maia and Argentine Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, marking a significant recognition for Latin American literature in an otherwise predominantly European selection. The International Booker Prize is a prestigious award that honors the finest fiction translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland, making it a noteworthy accolade in the literary world.
Ana Paula Maia is debuting in this competition with her novel "Assim na Terra como Embaixo da Terra" (translated to "On Earth As It Is Beneath" by Padma Viswanathan), which was originally published in Brazil in 2017 and offers a compelling narrative of life in a penal colony during its final days of operation. Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, on the other hand, is nominated for the second time for her novel "Las Niñas del Naranjel" (translated to "We are Green and Trembling" by Robin Myers), highlighting the significant contributions of Latin American authors to global literature.
The inclusion of two Latin American voices on the longlist not only showcases the talent emerging from the region but also brings attention to the cultural and literary richness that exists outside of the traditional European narrative. This recognition could pave the way for greater international visibility for Brazilian literature, encouraging more translations and publications in the English-speaking world.
