Christina MacSweeney has been awarded the 2025 Cercador Prize for her translation of Jazmina Barrera‘s acclaimed work, The Queen of Swords, published by Two Lines Press. This announcement was made earlier this week, marking another significant achievement for both the translator and the author.
The Cercador Prize, now in its third year, has established itself as a notable accolade in the literary community. Unique in its structure, it not only offers a monetary award but is also judged exclusively by independent booksellers. Without a formal submission process, the prize relies on a jury of booksellers who compile a shortlist based on their personal reading experiences. This inclusive approach allows for a diverse range of works, covering genres from fiction to memoir, poetry, and beyond.
Jury’s Praise for a Distinctive Translation
The jury expressed admiration for MacSweeney’s lyrical translation, stating that The Queen of Swords “astounded” them. This work delves into the life of Elena Garro, a pivotal figure in magical realism, whose complex narrative challenges conventions and embraces contradictions. The jury described the book as “a study of reversals and research,” highlighting its portrayal of a life filled with art, destruction, love, pain, faith, and persecution.
MacSweeney is recognized as one of the foremost translators in contemporary literature. Her previous translations include works by notable authors such as Elvira Navarro, Valeria Luiselli, Daniel Saldaña París, Julián Herbert, and Karla Suárez. She has also contributed to various anthologies focusing on Latin American literature.
In recent years, MacSweeney’s translations have garnered significant recognition, with her adaptation of Barrera’s Cross-Stitch shortlisted for the Queen Sofía Institute Translation Prize. Additionally, Rabbit Island by Elvira Navarro was longlisted for a National Book Award, while Fury by Clyo Mendoza earned a nomination for the Valle-Inclán Translation Prize.
A Legacy of Literary Excellence
Jazmina Barrera, who has published six books in Spanish, collaborates closely with MacSweeney in bringing her work to English-speaking audiences. The Queen of Swords is the fourth book translated by MacSweeney, following other successful titles such as Linea Nigra, which was a finalist for both the National Book Critics Circle’s Gregg Barrios Book in Translation Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Autobiography Prize. Barrera is also the editor and co-founder of Ediciones Antílope.
This year’s jury included prominent booksellers such as Javi Tapia from Third Place Books in Seattle, Dylan McGonigle from Wayfinder Bookshop in Fairfax, Beatriz Quiroz García from Skylight Books in Los Angeles, C. Rees from Alienated Majesty Books in Austin, and prize chair Emily Tarr from Thank You Books in Birmingham.
The awarding of the Cercador Prize to Christina MacSweeney underscores the importance of translation in bringing diverse voices to a broader audience and celebrates the artistry involved in transforming literature across languages.
