KATHMANDU, JUNE 15
Thirteen years on, Nepalaya-the publishing house-has released a novel by Nobel Prize-winning Chinese author Mo Yan, translated into Nepali script, amid a special ceremony held in Kathmandu on Saturday.
In a press statement issued today, Nepalaya said the book was jointly unveiled by literature expert Kumar Nagarkoti, writer Bhuwan Dhungana, and translator Sarwotam Shrestha.
The statement further noted that, while awarding Mo Yan the Nobel Prize, the Nobel Committee remarked: "Mo Yan merges folk tales, history, and contemporary realities through the lens of magical realism."
Mo Yan himself personally selected and provided a collection of his short stories and novellas to translator Sarwotam Shrestha for Nepali translation.
While pursuing medical studies in China, Shrestha developed a deep appreciation for the Chinese language and literature. As a result, he has translated six books from Chinese into Nepali to date.
"Although Mo Yan's works have been translated into many languages, they had yet to appear in Nepali. That's why I took on the task," Shrestha said. "The joys and struggles of rural Chinese life portrayed in his stories resonate closely with Nepal's own realities. The imaginative power with which he weaves those experiences brings his narratives vividly to life," the statement added.
The newly released volume comprises 19 fictional works by Mo Yan, including 17 short stories and two novellas.
Spanning 319 pages, the book is priced at Rs 675. It will be available at bookstores across Nepal beginning Saturday.
Additionally, readers worldwide can purchase it via Amazon, while both physical and e-book versions will be accessible through Thuprai.com, according to the statement.
