New york: The English translation of Taiwanese author Ping Lu's novel "To the East of the East" has been longlisted for the 2026 National Book Award for Translated Literature in the United States. This is the second time a Taiwanese writer has been recognized in this category, following Yang Shuang-zi.According to Focus Taiwan, the novel was translated from Chinese by Jeremy Tiang and explores a Taiwanese writer's journey to Beijing in search of her missing husband. The story delves into the encounters she experiences in Beijing, as detailed by the National Book Foundation, which announced the longlist.The novel is among 10 works selected from 159 submissions originally published in various languages, including Arabic, Chinese, French, Indonesian, Norwegian, Russian, and Spanish. Nine of these works are novels, with one being nonfiction. The National Book Foundation plans to announce the finalists on October 6, while the winner will be revealed at the 77th National Book Awards Ceremony on November 18."T o the East of the East" is the first installment of Ping Lu's "Taiwan Trilogy," initially published in 2011 and later republished in 2024. The trilogy includes "Ilha Formosa" and "Passing." Ping Lu, whose real name is Lu Ping, credits much of the recognition to Tiang's skillful translation, noting that her own contribution might be only a small part.Ping Lu explained that the novel reflects her personal experiences after returning to Taiwan from Hong Kong, where she served as director of the Kwang Hwa Information and Culture Center. The narrative examines the themes of inner emotion, island-mainland relationships, betrayal, and the pursuit of freedom.The author has received numerous accolades, including several of Taiwan's national book awards and the National Award for the Arts. Her works have been translated into various languages, such as English, French, Japanese, Korean, and Czech. Tiang, a translator from Singapore, has also worked on translations of other Taiwanese writers, including Su Wei-chen, L o Yi-chin, and Chi Ta-wei.