Overview

Shortlisted for The International Booker Prize 2026 She 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.

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Reviews

""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."" -- ""Stiliana Milkova Rousseva, author of Reading in Translation"" ""Told with understated poetry, this novel perfectly captures the slippery uncertainty of painful memories."" -- ""International Booker Prize"" ""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."" -- ""PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants""

Author Information

Bulgarian poet, writer, screenwriter, actor, and playwright Rene Karabash has won multiple awards for her work, including several Best Actress awards for her role in the film Godless, and the Elias Canetti prize--Bulgaria's most prestigious literary award--for She Who Remains, her debut novel. She Who Remains has been translated into over a dozen languages, including French, Italian, Swedish, Portuguese, and Arabic, and a film based on Karabash's adaptation of the novel is set to be released in 2025. Karabash is also the author of Omar's Letters to His Future Wife. Jennifer Pickens has been a storyteller since childhood, when she could often be found acting out the adventures of the characters that she created. Now, in front of the mic, she uses her smooth tone and confident grasp of character and pacing to connect listeners to an author's story, bringing their words to life. She lives in Oregon, and is often found reading, drinking tea, metalsmithing, quilting, or playing the mountain dulcimer.

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