Fatimah Busu’s stories reach global readers
Renowned Malaysian writer’s works debut in English with new translation
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (MNTV) — Fatimah Busu, a celebrated figure in Malay literature, is now reaching a wider audience with the first English translation of her short stories.
Published by Penguin Random House SEA, An Ordinary Tale About Women And Other Stories features 10 of Fatimah’s works, translated from Bahasa Malaysia by Pauline Fan.
The collection introduces English readers to the prolific Kelantanese writer, whose literary career spans over six decades.
Born in 1942 in Kampung Pasir Pekan, Kelantan, Fatimah has been a pioneering voice in Malay literature.
In a 2020 interview for the George Town Literary Festival, she recalled her humble beginnings, growing up in poverty and learning resilience.
Her literary journey began in 1959 with Kerana Adik, published in Singapore’s Mutiara magazine.
She gained wider recognition with her acclaimed 1977 novel Ombak Bukan Biru and has won awards for short stories like Mawar Yang Belum Gugur (1971) and Anak-Anak Dari Kampung Pasir Pekan (1975).
In 2015, she was honored as the Kelantan State Laureate, with several of her works adapted for television.
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