She Who Remains

Shortlisted for The International Booker Prize 2026She Who Remains, Rene Karabash's landmark Bulgarian queer novel, secrets listeners into a rural Albanian village where, to this day, the Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini-a collection of archaic laws-looms over the lives of villagers with the same haunting presence of the surrounding mountains. Bekija, painfully aware of why she cannot have what she most wants, chooses to become a "sworn virgin," setting off a bloody and heartbreaking chain of events that shatters a family and destroys a cherished relationship, but also reveals how trauma can lead to vital, if uncomfortable, truths. Karabash's poetic stream of consciousness traces gender evolution with innovative grace. This bold exploration of what it means to be a woman in a world defined by the violence of ancient patriarchal traditions has resonated with listeners across Europe and beyond, and now English-language listeners won't soon forget Izidora Angel's award-winning translation. "Told with understated poetry, this novel perfectly captures the slippery uncertainty of painful memories."
"In the subtle and capable translation of Angel, this sad tale unfolds in a painfully raw, stream-of-consciousness style, offering an engrossing glimpse into a remote Albanian village steeped in tradition. Yet, its exploration of patriarchal violence and trauma makes it culturally profound and relevant, universally, at a historical moment when many are struggling to understand the transgender experience and gender fluidity." "Izidora Angel works magic with words…Rene Karabash's She Who Remains ensnares you into a contemporary world of ancient patriarchal law and guides you through its perilous territory on an intense journey of identity (trans)formation, family commitment, and love…There is joy and there is beauty in the texts Angel translates from Bulgarian, and above all―the promise of rebirth and salvation."