We’re thrilled to announce that Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix, translated from French by Helen Stevenson, has been shortlisted for this year’s International Booker Prize.
In November 2021, an inflatable dinghy carrying migrants from France to the United Kingdom capsized in the Channel causing the death of 27 people on board. Small Boat is a fictional account of the French government official who took the calls. Accused of failing in her duty, she refuses to be held more responsible than others for this disaster. In turn, Small Boat refuses to let spectators, and its readers, off the hook.
Congratulations to Vincent and Helen and all the other shortlisted books! The winner will be announced on 20 May at a ceremony at the Tate Modern.
Many thanks also to English Pen, CNL, and ACE for their support helping to enable the publication of Small Boat. Thanks also to The Booker Prizes and it's judges.
‘Short and relentless’ - The Telegraph
‘A gut punch of a novel’ - The International Booker Prize 2025 judges
The shortlist:
* Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico - Translated from Italian by Sophie Hughes
* Under the Eye of the Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami - Translated from Japanese by Asa Yoneda
* A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre - Translated from French by Mark Hutchinson
* On the Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle - Translated from Danish by Barbara J Haveland
* Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix - Translated from French by Helen Stevenson
* Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq - Translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi
