From Cuba, in words: Women writers in translation

You know we love books in translation (see our delightfully nerdy Women In Translation bookclub) so it's always a particular joy to discover new writers being translated for UK readers.

It was recently pointed out to us by Madrid-based translator Robin Munby that "Cuban women’s writing seems to be having a bit of a moment in the UK right now!" and he is so right, so we thought we'd signpost a few.

Munby is the translator of the latest work by queer Cuban author Anna Lidia Vega Serova, Anima Fatua - it is, in his own words " Anna Lidia’s first novel to be translated into English, tells the story of Alia, a young girl with mixed Soviet-Cuban heritage, as she grows up in the late Soviet Union. It’s a challenging, transgressive book, which does not shy away from darkness of many kinds, but it’s also full of beauty and exuberance and plenty of joy."

The novel is out in June and if we weren't already looking forward to it, we'd certainly have our interest piqued by this stellar review by Leo Boix!

Looking for more Cuban voices for your shelves, how about these additional suggestions from ourselves, and from Robin:

"Elaine Vilar Madruga’s Tyranny of Flies came out last year out last year, translated by Kevin Gerry Dunne, and The Weasel and The Whore by Martha Luisa Hernández Cadenas, which also won a PEN Translates Award, is set to be published by the amazing Héloïse Press in October. That one’s being translated by Julia Sanches and Jennifer Shyue, who are both amazing translators, so definitely one to watch out for."