This year’s subjective list of books we thought worthy of particular mention over the past 12 months: fiction (in translation and not), short stories, graphic novels, history, memoir, travel, photography, literature, culture, politics, society and children’s books covering Asia from the Pacific to the Black Sea, from the Russian Far East to India and Caucasus.

To commemorate the 700th anniversary of the death of the great Italian poet Dante Alighieri, Chameleon Press will publish a new collection of poetry in which contemporary poets from Asia interpret themes Dante’s opus with a particular focus on Beatrice, the object of Dante’s youthful love, his muse and guide. Due to a change in the associated musical composition competition, as well as Covid-19-related scheduling issues regarding associated public events, the submission deadline for the Dante poetry anthology has been extended until May 2021.