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'


Using Solar Power for E-readers in Africa, France

Worldreader now offers solar powered charging stations for schools and libraries in Africa; France's Bookeen is developing a new light-powered eink device. The post Using Solar Power for E-readers in Africa, France appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #france appeared


Pascoe tackles the female body for Faber

Faber has acquired a book by comedian Sara Pascoe, a feminist exploration of the female body. Editor Sarah Savitt signed world rights at auction to Animal: How a Woman is Made, from Dawn Sedgwick at Dawn Sedgwick Management. The book will be published in Spring 2016. Savitt said: "I have... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #female body #feminist exploration #perfect fit


Dr Seuss' forgotten adult book of female nudes

As the world eagerly awaits the release of his unexpected posthumous book in July, renewed interest in the work of Dr Seuss has sent the internet into the research archives... and it turns out there's a forgotten book of female nudes hidden there in Theodor Geisl's bibliography.  Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2015-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #dr seuss #renewed interest


Bangladeshis protest after atheist writer Avijit Roy hacked to death

Hundreds rally against fundamentalism in Dhaka as Islamists claim responsibility for murder of prominent US-Bangladeshi bloggerHundreds of people have taken to the streets of Dhaka in protest at the murder of a prominent secular American blogger of Bangladeshi origin who was hacked to death with... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book fair


Headline signs title from comedy writer Shaw

Headline has acquired a humour title by comedy writer Dale Shaw. Editor Richard Roper pre-empted world rights to F**k This Journal (Betterness Through Bitterness) by Dale Shaw from Jamie Coleman at Greene & Heaton. Headline is describing the book as a “hilarious and subversive take on the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #humour title #jamie coleman #greene heaton #absolutely thrilled #wickedly funny


Why all writers are vain

I’ve met, interviewed and shared stages with many authors over the years, and seen all too many signs of pride and oversensitivity to criticism. There is an inherent egotism in believing your voice matters – but that’s no reason not to put pen to paperMany years ago, when I had just started... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #put pen #recently appeared


London's Calling for Foreign Pubs Who Want New Harper Lee

Andrew Nurnberg, the British agent who represents Lee, is taking an unusual approach to selling the foreign rights to her forthcoming novel, 'Go Set a Watchman.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harper lee #andrew nurnberg #unusual approach #foreign rights


Works In Translation: If They Publish Them, Will They Buy Them?

Tom Chalmers, managing director of IPR License, talks about some of the strongest markets for selling works in translation right now. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tom chalmers #ipr license


Lone Star: Will Evans Promises Texas Translation Renaissance

Will Evans, of Dallas-based Deep Vellum press, is leveraging local support to sustain his recently launched publishing house focused on translation. The post Lone Star: Will Evans Promises Texas Translation Renaissance appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Hold on to your cat in the hat! Long lost Dr. Seuss book to be released

More than twenty years after his death a new Dr. Seuss book, "What Pet Should I Get?" will be published this summer.   Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-02-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #seuss book #twenty years


How Etsy Alienated Its Crafters and Lost Its Soul

Like book authors who hate Amazon’s policies, crafters who hate Etsy find it hard to leave because of the site’s immense traffic and generally positive public reputation. Just before the Christmas rush, I finally put my money where my mouth is and shut down my shop. The post How Etsy Alienated... Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2015-02-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book authors #hate amazon #christmas rush


Why Writers Need to Know the Publishing Business

Publisher Deborah Emin argues that as publishing professionals, we should want writers to understand each stage of the process: how they are acquired, marketed and sold. The post Why Writers Need to Know the Publishing Business appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing business #publishing professionals


Susan Golomb Joining Writers House

Veteran literary agent Susan Golomb, whose clients include Jonathan Franzen and William T. Vollmann, will be starting at Writers House on March 1. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #writers house


Why book publishers will miss Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart was known for bringing attention to lower-profile, more obscure books. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book publishers #jon stewart


Women writers dominate Waterstones kids' shortlist

Female authors account for the vast majority of this year’s Waterstones Children’s Book Prize this year, with 15 of the 18 titles written by women (see full shortlists below). The prize is divided into three categories – best illustrated book, best fiction for 5-12s and best book for teens –... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book prize #illustrated book #vast majority #waterstones children #books shortlisted #steve antony #rob biddulph


Male writers feature on RNA shortlists

Three male authors are among the many writers shortlisted for the Romantic Novel Awards 2015 (full lists below), which are traditionally overwhelmingly dominated by women. Stephen Burke is shortlisted in the Historical Romantic Novel category for his novel The Good Italian by (Hodder &... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #romantic comedy #male authors #hodder stoughton


Egmont signs ten foreign rights deals for The It Girl

Egmont has sold the rights to The It Girl, the first in a teen series from debut author Katy Birchall, in 10 languages. The publisher has sold rights in French (to Pocket Jeunesse), German (Egmont Germany), Spanish (Planeta), Catalan (Grup 62) Brazilian Portuguese (Rocco), Dutch (JP... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sold rights #teen series


Finally: DC, Marvel announce new line-up with more female characters

Last summer, two-time National Book Award finalist Gene Luen Yang ("American Born Chinese") gave a rousing speech at the Library of Congress, letting his fellow writers know at the National Book Festival kickoff that the comic-book industry needs to do more, and give itself more liberty, to... Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2015-02-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #female characters #fellow writers


Native Tongues: Middle East Fiction in Translation: Middle East Books 2015

In an oft-cited statistic, Chad Post, publisher of Open Letter Books at the University of Rochester and an outspoken advocate for books in translation, estimates that 3% of fiction and poetry books published in the U.S. are translations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #native tongues #chad post #outspoken advocate


Harper Lee's 'lost' novel was intended to complete a trilogy, says agent

Agent reveals plan for abandoned third novel and dismisses manipulation claims as ‘nonsense’Harper Lee’s agent revealed on Thursday that To Kill a Mockingbird was originally intended to be the first of a three-book series, and described as “total nonsense” claims that the 88-year-old author was... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harper lee #three-book series #book deal