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 ]
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Foreign authors warned about book censorship in China

Books translated for the fast-growing Chinese market may be censored without their authors’ knowledge, a writers’ advocacy group reportsA US-based advocacy group is warning Western authors to be vigilant about censorship of their work, which is sometimes done without their knowledge, in China’s... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-05-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scottish Book Trust gets £95k for young writers

The Scottish Book Trust has been awarded £95,000 for a new national programme for young writers, from Time To Shine, Scotland’s National Youth Arts Strategy. The Young Writers programme will include a conference, development of writers groups across Scotland, and an online platform to showcase... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Female shortlist for debut book prize

A writer who penned her first novel in her 40s is among three female authors shortlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize for new fiction. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2015-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Melville House Touts 'Lost' Memoir About WWII Exodus

The Brooklyn-based indie is hoping to make waves with the first English language edition of Leon Werth's memoir, '33 Days,' about the grueling trek he and over eight million Jews made, in 1940, fleeing Paris and the advancing German army. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lost then Found: Police Recover Garcia Marquez First Edition

A first edition of One Hundred Years of Solitude was stolen at the Bogota Book Fair last week. Police recovered the book, but the thieves are still at large. The post Lost then Found: Police Recover Garcia Marquez First Edition appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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LBF Proves Literary Translation Market is Diversifying

Tom Chalmers of IPR License notes activity at the recent London Book Fair proved the literary translation market is diversifying into smaller languages. The post LBF Proves Literary Translation Market is Diversifying appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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World English deal for HarperCollins and Patricia Cornwell

HarperCollins Publishers has acquired world English rights to two more books by Patricia Cornwell. The two Kay Scarpetta novels will be published by HarperCollins around the world, including in the UK, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, and India. The first book will be published in the autumn of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hub City Writers Project Celebrates 20 Years of Literary Energy

Hatched over coffee 20 years ago, the Hub City Writers Project has grown into an indie press, a nonprofit bookstore and driving force behind the literary arts in Spartanburg, SC. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ruth Rendell, British mystery writer, remembered for Inspector Wexford novels

Rendell was one of Britain's most popular crime novelists and wrote dozens of books, including many under the pen name Barbara Vine. She passed away over the weekend. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Romania’s Online, English Book Sales on the Rise

In Romania, online sales now account for 20% of the $110 million book market, with interest in ebooks and English-language titles also on the rise. The post Romania’s Online, English Book Sales on the Rise appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-05-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Peter Carey among writers to protest PEN honour for Charlie Hebdo

Writers withdraw from literary and human rights organisation’s American Center gala, citing objection to award for the French satirical magazinePeter Carey, Michael Ondaatje, Francine Prose, and at least three other writers have withdrawn from next month’s PEN American Center gala, citing... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Elizabeth is Missing voted favourite Richard and Judy Spring title

Emma Healey’s début novel Elizabeth is Missing (Penguin) has been voted as the best title in Richard and Judy’s Spring 2015 Book Club. Readers voted for their favourite book from the book club’s eight Spring picks on the W H Smith website. The second most-voted-for title was The Miniaturist by... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Huge inequality' in writer earnings

There is a “huge inequality” in earnings between writers, with a small number – 10% - earning most of the money made by professional authors, research released today (20th April) has found. The Business of Being an Author: A Survey of Authors Earnings and Contracts was commissioned by the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ig Plans Series on Books That Inspired Writers to Write

We all know how certain books, read at key moments in our lives, remain memorable and influential for years afterward. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How To Become a Better Reader in 10 Steps

Gretchen Rubin, author of "The Happiness Project," on how to become a better reader. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Restivo-Alessi to Head HC Foreign-Language Team

Chantal Restivo-Alessi, currently chief digital officer for HarperCollins, has been named to the additional post of executive v-p, international. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Foreign book prize reveals shortlist

Japanese writer Haruki Murakami makes the shortlist for 2015's Independent Foreign Fiction Prize, alongside newly-translated authors from Equatorial Guinea and Colombia. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2015-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Young Readers Partners with Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution and Penguin Young Readers are collaborating on a new series of narrative non-fiction books riffing on the Smithsonian experience The post Penguin Young Readers Partners with Smithsonian Institution appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Murakami shortlisted for Indie Foreign Fiction Prize

Authors Haruki Murakami, Erwin Mortier and Daniel Kehlmann have made the shortlist for the 2015 Independent Foreign Fiction Prize. Also shortlisted for the £10,000 award are two writers whose work has been translated from Spanish into English for the first time: Tomás González and Juan Tomás... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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