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A beginner’s guide to translated fiction

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If you've been on the hunt for a great new book lately, chances are you've encountered a growing number of books translated into English lining bookshop and library shelves. Whether you're new to books in translation, or want to expand your horizons and read titles from around the world, read on for our essential guide.

What is translated fiction, exactly?

Translated fiction refers to stories originally written and published in one language, then translated and published in another. It's not a genre, but an umbrella term that encompasses any work that has been translated into another language.

However, there are particular regions and countries, as well as authors and genres, that have driven the growing popularity of translated fiction, especially among English-language readers. Global search interest in "translated books" more than trebled between 2025 and 2026, according to Google Trends data. In the UK alone, 3.8 million works of translated fiction were sold in 2025, up from 2.9 million in 2016, according to research compiled for the Booker Prize Foundation by NielsenIQ BookData, with Japanese, French, and Russian the three most popular languages of origin.

Some regions are also home to globally popular literary traditions and subgenres. Magical realism, shaped by the likes of Alejo Carpentier, Gabriel García Márquez, and Isabel Allende, is strongly rooted in Latin American literature, while authors such as Jo Nesbo, Ragnar Jónasson, and Stieg Larsson have brought gritty Nordic-noir thrillers and procedurals to the masses. Similarly, works of healing fiction from Japan and Korea have become international bestsellers thanks to their uplifting, quietly beautiful celebration of everyday lives and moments.

The short answer

Translated fiction encompasses any work of fiction that was written and published in one language, then translated and published in another language.

How to choose a book in translation

Are you new to translated fiction and don't know where to begin? With English translations of literature from across the globe, there is quite literally a whole world to explore. Here are some approaches that can help you find the perfect starting point:

Start with a country or region that interests you

Fiction is one of the best ways to deepen your understanding of a country's culture, history, and even political and social landscape.

Whether you’re planning to take the trip of a lifetime through South America, or simply want to immerse yourself in a different society and culture from the comfort of your sofa, read on to find all the reading inspiration you need for translated fiction from around the world.

Start with an author

From Clarice Lispector to Haruki Murakami, Fyodor Dostoevsky to Roberto Bolaño, there are plenty of prolific authors whose books have been translated into English. If you want to get into translated fiction by deeply understanding some of the greatest voices in world literature, here are some of our essential guides to authors in translation:

Start with your favourite genre

Translated fiction encompasses all manner of genres, not just classics and literary fiction. Click below to jump straight to our guides to the best examples of:

Start with the shorter books

For some, translated fiction can conjure up images of lengthy tomes like Les Misérables or War and Peace. But fear not: there are plenty of short stories and novellas to explore, many of which have been made hugely popular by BookTok.

Examples:

Start with the prize-winners and awards favourites

Literary award shortlists and winners are a great way to discover must-read books originally written in other languages. The International Booker Prize is arguably the best starting point for Anglophone readers, as it specifically celebrates fiction translated into English from other languages.

Most countries have their own prestigious prizes, such as France’s Prix Goncourt, Japan’s Akutagawa Prize and Naoki Prize, the Spanish-language Miguel de Cervantes Prize, and the International Prize for Arabic Fiction.

The Nobel Prize in Literature has also been awarded to numerous authors writing in languages other than English, from French poet Sully Prudhomme, the Prize’s first laureate in 1901, to contemporary authors such as Korean writer Han Kang.

Examples:

Penguin's beginner reading list for translated fiction

  • White Nights by Fyodor Dostoyevsky – best for those interested in Russian literature or a short read.
  • Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami – best starting point for Japanese fiction in translation.
  • I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman – best for fans of dystopian and feminist fiction.
  • Madonna in a Fur Coat by Sabahattin Ali – best for a poignant story of alienation, chance encounters, and yearning.
  • The Wall by Marlen Haushofer – best for a survivalist dystopian story with a feminist edge.
  • Marigold Mind Laundry by Jungeun Yun – best for an uplifting work of healing fiction from a Korean bestseller.

    • Which translated classics to read first

    For those who love reading the classics, translated fiction represents an unmissable part of the canon. Many of literature’s greatest English-speaking authors were themselves influenced by writing from other languages, and global literary theories, from Russian formalism, to Freud’s psychoanalysis, to Roland Barthes’ "death of the author", have shaped the way fiction is written and read the world over.   

    If you’re ready to dive into the best literary heavyweights, here are some excellent starting points:

    The best crime books in translation

    The best sci-fi, dystopian, and fantasy books in translation

    The best historical fiction in translation

    Frequently asked questions

    What are the most translated books of all time?

    The Bible is technically the most-translated book of all time, with versions translated into over 200 languages. Other widely translated books include The Little Prince and The Pilgrim's Progress.

    Who are the most famous literary translators?

    When it comes to fiction in translation, translators are becoming increasingly celebrated for the often challenging work they do in bringing the nuances, storytelling, and magic of fiction to a new language. Widely acclaimed translators include Ros Schwartz, Jay Rubin, Shanna Tan, and Gregory Rabassa.

    Why is translated fiction so popular?

    Translated fiction allows readers to transcend language barriers and explore new stories, genres, and styles of writing that they would have otherwise never been able to access. Among Anglophone readers, there has been growing interest in cultural exports and literature specific to different countries, such as Japan, Korea, and Russia.