FOR eight years, the Fu Lei Translation and Publishing Awards, founded by the French Embassy in China in 2009, has been dedicated to honoring prominent Chinese translators who make efforts to introduce French literature to Chinese readers.

    The 8th Fu Lei Translation and Publishing Awards unveiled 12 finalists — six under the category of social science and six under fiction — at the French Culture Center in Beijing on Tuesday, selected from over 50 candidates who submitted applications before April this year.

    They will compete for three honors which will be announced at an awarding ceremony at the Temple Hotel in Beijing on Nov. 26. Winners for fiction and social science will each get a bonus of 4,000 euros (US$4,400) to share with their publishers, and a special prize of best new translator will come with 1,500 euros.

    In the shortlist, there are a variety of books under different subjects, including “The Consolations of the Forest” from famed French adventurer and writer Sylvain Tesson, “Distinction” from sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, and “Astragal” — the 1965 semi-autobiographical novel by Albertine Sarrazin.

    The finalists are chosen based on criteria of both the importance of the books in French literature and the translators’ language level, Sylvie Gentil, a jury member, said at Tuesday’s news conference.

    The Fu Lei award was established in 2009 to promote French literature in China. It’s named after Fu Lei (1908-1966), one of the most renowned Chinese translators who helped Chinese readers gain access to works from big names including Honoré de Balzac, Voltaire and Romain Rolland.

    “There has been a severe shortage of young translators in our country. We hope this award will help get people’s attention to this industry and encourage more young people to participate,” said Dong Qiang, the awards’ organizing committee chairman.

    According to the French Culture Center, China is now the largest copyright import country for French books. However, a large amount of them are children’s books, said Robert Lacombe, the cultural counselor of the French Embassy in China, while presenting Tuesday’s news briefing.

    In 2015, Chinese publishers bought copyrights of over 1,600 French books, but literary works and those on social sciences only accounted for some 20 percent.

    (China Daily)