Lost to translation: how English readers miss out on foreign female writers

Only a third of books translated into English last year were by female writers. As Women in Translation month wraps up, we investigate why – and if things are changing• In their own words: 10 female translators on the work that inspires themWhen Argentinian author Samanta Schweblin’s first book, El núcleo del disturbio came out in 2002, she was 24 years old, a fresh, female voice in a Latin American literary scene dominated by male greats: Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar, Mario Vargas Llosa, Gabriel García Márquez. Every good review was important, even if the praise was occasionally backhanded: one well-known Argentinian critic loved her debut and said that she wrote like a man.More than a decade later, she rolls her eyes. “That’s a compliment? It was so strange to me … and he was trying to be very nice, trying to cheer me up and push my career,” says Schweblin, now with a Man Booker International prize nomination under her belt. Related: In their own words: 10 female translators on the work that inspires them Related: The malice and sexism behind the ‘unmasking’ of Elena Ferrante Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2017-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #books translated #female writers

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Lost to translation: how English readers miss out on foreign female writers'


How a Collective of Incarcerated Writers Published an Anthology From Prison

It would make sense that any history would begin at Stillwater Prison, where so much of the story and mythology of prison in Minnesota also begins. It is where Cole Younger of the famous James-Younger gang did their time, and where they spent their own money to start the Prison Mirror, the... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2023-10-16 11:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #prison appeared #make sense #electric literature #anthology


Confessions of an Arrogant and Humble Writer

An author explains how these two qualities are key to her literary success—and how they can help other writers sustain long and fruitful careers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


10 Fantastic Books in Translation from Haiti

From haunting historical fiction to poetic contemporary fiction, these 10 Haitian books in translation are worth picking up. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-10-11 10:34:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #historical fiction


Pratchett power: from lost stories to new adaptations, how the late Discworld author lives on

It’s 40 years since The Colour of Magic hit the shelves. As newly unearthed short stories are published, fans and friends celebrate the late author’s enduring legacy“Of all the dead authors in the world, Terry Pratchett is the most alive,” said John Lloyd at the author’s memorial in 2015. This... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-10-07 10:00:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #good omens #neil gaiman #graphic novel #short stories


If Lydia Davis Wasn’t a Writer, She’d Devote Herself to Climate Activism

Lydia Davis’ new collection Our Strangers, is available now from Bookshop Editions, so we asked her a few questions about her writing, reading, and more. How do you tackle writer’s block? I don’t really have writer’s block anymore. When I first started out, I certainly did just sit there... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-10-02 09:00:46 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tackle writer #climate activism #lydia davis #bookshop


A journey of discovery and identity formation: The Dictionary of Lost Words makes its wonderful stage debut

Verity Laughton’s stage adaptation of Pip Williams’ best-selling book is a a very clever realisation. Continue reading at The Conversation

[ The Conversation | 2023-09-28 05:05:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #stage adaptation #pip williams #best-selling book


9 Historical Novels by 20th-Century Queer Writers

Queer people have been writing historical fiction since before queerness existed—by which I mean, since before it was hammered into an antithesis to heterosexuality during the long nineteenth century. By the turn of the twentieth, queers looking to write about the past had to grapple with new,... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2023-09-25 11:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #electric literature #historical fiction


Leading Christian Authors Look to Little Readers

Christian-living megaselling authors, renowned Bible scholars, Christian fiction stars, and more are eager to open the doors to faith for little ones with new books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #christian fiction


How to Get Free Ebooks on ‘Stuff Your E-Reader’ Day (2023)

No matter what device you read ebooks on, there are thousands of free romance titles available this week. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2023-09-20 11:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #free ebooks #read ebooks #ebooks


New Literature in Translation

PW spoke with the publishers bringing David Diop, Annie Ernaux, Yoko Tawada, and others to U.S. readers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pw spoke #annie ernaux #yoko tawada


Here’s the longlist for the 2023 National Book Award for Translated Literature.

Today, the National Book Foundation announced the longlist for the 2023 National Book Award for Translated Literature. The ten titles were originally published in seven different languages—Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish—and were selected from a pool of 154 books... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-09-13 19:15:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #translated literature #ten titles #originally published #national book foundation #national book award


Drew Barrymore is dropped as National Book Awards host amid writers' strike controversy

The National Book Foundation has rescinded Drew Barrymore's invitation to host the National Book Awards while her show tapes amid the Hollywood strikes. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-09-12 23:23:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #drew barrymore #national book foundation


A New Jewish Bible Triggers a Translation Debate

Translating a Bible has always been risky, and today, the language of gender often fires up public opinion. That makes the “gender-sensitive” new English translation of Judaism’s core scriptures forthcoming from the Jewish Publication Society a book to watch. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-08-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #public opinion #english translation


Former 'Friends' writer says the stars were unhappy and purposely tanked jokes they didn't like

A former "Friends" writer's new memoir details her experience on the show at a time when the stars seemed unhappy, and the writers room wasn't so friendly. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-08-25 01:20:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #memoir details #memoir


‘A tired old show’: Friends writer claims cast deliberately ruined jokes

Patty Lin says that Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry and co forced rewrites of gags they didn’t like by performing them badlyFriends may have been a worldwide smash hit that made megastars of its cast, but – according to one of its writers – the actors weren’t always trying their... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-08-24 10:34:01 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jennifer aniston #matthew perry #memoir


‘It’s like comfort eating’: why readers are hungry for Colleen Hoover

Colleen Hoover’s novels took the top six places on last year’s New York Times bestseller list, while in the UK she rivals Richard Osman as the biggest author in recent times. How has she done it?The first Colleen Hoover book I read was It Ends With Us, and when I opened it on the tube, I saw... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-08-19 10:00:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #successful authors #romantic love #colleen hoover #recent times #bestselling novelist #richard osman #times bestseller


Six books to read this Women In Translation month – recommended by our experts

Mysteries from China, short stories from the Balkans, a French-Morrocan autobiography and more. Continue reading at The Conversation

[ The Conversation | 2023-08-17 13:31:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #translation month #short stories


Pidgeon Pagonis on the Urgency of Writing a Memoir as an Intersex Writer

Pidgeon and I met in the summer of 2020, the summer of sickness, and violent change. We spoke over Zoom, nearly 800 miles apart—I had been hired as a developmental editor for an intersex activist named Pidgeon Pagonis. A developmental editor is a bit of a catch-all title: we do a bit of... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-08-17 09:20:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #memoir


On Drinking, the Devil, and Paradise Lost

After aimlessly walking about Bloomsbury on an intermittently rainy afternoon, I unsuccessfully decided to search for the grave of John Milton while nursing a wicked hangover, or as is probably more likely, while still being drunk from the previous evening. Only my second week in London, I was... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-08-15 10:00:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #previous evening #bloomsbury


How to Fix Missing Covers on a Sideloaded Ebook on Kindle

Are you missing lockscreen covers for ebooks you've sideloaded onto your Kindle? Here’s how to fix them in just a few easy steps! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-08-14 10:35:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #easy steps #ebooks