Granta’s Best of Young Spanish-language Novelists

Granta has another list of Best Novelists . . . except this time, instead of focusing on British or American, they’re going Spanish. Love it.

Despite all the complaints about lists and prizes (many of which are justified, since the criteria are often subjective or obscure), these type of hierarchies still serve a semi-useful function for the public — to direct them toward literature that’s worth reading. I’m hoping it will direct more English-speakers outside their narrow swath of language and into foreign tongues.

Here’s the press announcement:

“Queridos amigos de Granta,

Hot on the heels of the Pakistan issue, Granta has another big announcement. Our new list of ‘Best of Young Novelists’ will be announced this Friday.

On October 1st at noon in Madrid, Granta and Granta en español will announce the names of the 22 authors that have made it into our next issue — Granta 113: Best of Young Spanish-language Novelists. The announcement will be made at a special press conference at the Circulo Bellas Artes, Madrid. [emphasis mine]”