Mirinae Lee longlisted for Women's Prize for Fiction

Mirinae Lee, the author of "8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster" / Courtesy of Mirinae Lee

Mirinae Lee's novel "8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster" has been longlisted for Britain's Women's Prize for Fiction, marking the first time a Korean author has been nominated for this accolade.

The novel, which explores Korea's complex modern history, narrates the life of an unnamed protagonist, who takes on various roles — from an escape artist and murderer to a spy and a mother, interweaving eight distinct but interconnected stories.

The Women's Prize for Fiction, established in 1996, celebrates the literary contributions of women. It was created to address the underrepresentation of women in prestigious literary awards like the Booker Prize. This year's longlist, announced ahead of International Women's Day on March 8, features 16 English novels penned by women from diverse backgrounds and nationalities.

Her inclusion in the longlist alongside seven other debut novelists underscores a year of notable firsts.

The cover of "8 Lives of the Century-Old Trickster" by Mirinae Lee / Courtesy of HarperCollins

Lee's journey to literary acclaim is as unique as her novel's protagonist. Born and raised in Seoul, Lee transitioned from writing in her native Korean to English, finding her narrative voice in a second language. Her novel not only reflects her linguistic journey but also pays homage to her great aunt, a North Korean defector whose life story echoes the tumultuous events depicted in the book.

Now residing in Hong Kong, Lee's literary achievements are beginning to resonate globally. "8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster" was published by Virago in Britain in May 2023 and by Harper Collins in the United States in June 2023 and is set to be translated into Korean in June by Wisdom House with additional international editions on the horizon.

A shortlist of six titles for the Women's Prize for Fiction will be announced on April 24 and the winner on June 13. The winning author will receive 30,000 British pounds and a bronze statuette called the "Bessie," by Grizel Niven.