July carries the legacy of two literary giants: Marcel Proust and Ernest Hemingway, both born this month. Though vastly different in style, each transformed the art of storytelling—Proust through his exploration of memory and time, Hemingway through his spare, luminous prose. Their enduring influence reminds us that literature can reveal entire worlds through both abundance and restraint.

​

In that spirit, this issue celebrates stories that travel across languages, histories, and artistic forms. At its heart is a conversation with Jordan Stump, whose translation of Marie NDiaye's The Witch was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2026. Translation remains one of literature's most remarkable acts of renewal, allowing stories to cross borders while preserving the singularity of their voices. Our discussion with Stump explores the intricacies of literary translation and the delicate balance between fidelity and reinvention. We also speak with Ranjit Powar about The Veil and the Sword, which uncovers the significant role women played in building Maharaja Ranjit Singh's empire. Another engaging conversation features Chitra Gopalakrishnan in dialogue with Ankit Raj Ojha about his edited anthology, The Bare Bones Book of Humour, a celebration of wit, satire, and the many shades of humour.

​

Alongside a thoughtfully curated selection of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction, our Visual Arts section features Harmeet Singh's reflections on London Gallery Weekend, examining why the city continues to occupy a pivotal place in the global cultural imagination.

​

Our Reviews section traverses genres and forms. We take a close look at RISE: The Deep Resilience Way by Neena Verma, Voices in the Wind, and Dreaminations by Jianqing Zheng, while our film review turns its attention to the OTT release System.

​

This month's Wise Owl Picks bring together three remarkable books that have garnered international acclaim. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction, is a moving exploration of connection, loneliness, and the unexpected ways lives intersect. Taiwan Travelogue by Yang Shuang-zi, translated by Lin King and winner of the International Booker Prize 2026, offers a richly layered journey through history, identity, and cultural memory. Completing the trio is She Who Remains by Rene Karabash, translated by Izidora Angel, a haunting and lyrical novel shortlisted for the International Booker Prize that probes questions of identity, freedom, and belonging.

​

As always, we invite you to wander through these pages at your own pace. Whether you linger over a poem, discover a new writer, or find yourself drawn into an unfamiliar world, we hope this issue offers the pleasure of attentive reading—and leaves you with something worth carrying beyond its final page.