Articles

Translators Association – 60 Years of Classic Translations: Labyrinths (1962)

1962 is represented in The Society of Authors #TA60 series of classic translations by Jorge Luis Borges, whose surreal prose is often seen as having opened the door to magical realism. The influential Argentine writer was largely unknown in the English-speaking world until he was awarded the prestigious Prix International jointly with Samuel Beckett. The … Continue reading Translators Association – 60 Years of Classic Translations: Labyrinths (1962)

The Four Immigrants Manga — Frederik L. Schodt

May GLLI Blog Series:  Japan in Translation, No. 15 Editor's note:  Fred Schodt is best known for his work popularizing manga and anime outside of Japan.  But he has also spent much of his career shedding light on little known aspects of Japanese popular culture and history:  for instance, the story of Native American adventurer Ranald … Continue reading The Four Immigrants Manga — Frederik L. Schodt

Translators Association – 60 Years of Classic Translations: The Tin Drum (1961)

Oskar Matzerath, the diminutive anti-hero of Günter Grass' THE TIN DRUM, was unleashed upon the English-speaking world in 1961. This first translation from the German was by Ralph Manheim. Weird, sweeping, brilliant, it’s frequently nominated as one of the great 20th century novels. Manheim’s translation contributed to the book’s huge international success, but from the … Continue reading Translators Association – 60 Years of Classic Translations: The Tin Drum (1961)

The Compassionate Imagination – Sally Ito on Translating Misuzu Kaneko

May GLLI Blog Series:  Japan in Translation, No. 14 Editor's note:  When I approached Canadian poet/translator Sally Ito about acting as translator for Are You an Echo? The Lost Poetry of Misuzu Kaneko, she and her aunt Michiko Tsuboi, her co-translator, had already translated at least a dozen of Misuzu's poems on their own.  The … Continue reading The Compassionate Imagination – Sally Ito on Translating Misuzu Kaneko

Anglophoned Fiction Favorites — by Smithsonian BookDragon Terry Hong, part 2

May GLLI Blog Series:  Japan in Translation, No. 13 Editor's note:  Today begins the second installment of Smithsonian BookDragon Terry Hong's current favorites in Japanese translated fiction.  It's interesting though perhaps coincidental to note that five of Terry's nine recommendations were written by women, and seven of the nine were translated by women.  I point … Continue reading Anglophoned Fiction Favorites — by Smithsonian BookDragon Terry Hong, part 2

Anglophoned Fiction Favorites — by Smithsonian BookDragon Terry Hong, part 1

May GLLI Blog Series:  Japan in Translation, No. 12 My two unfinished almost-ABD*-PhDs still makes my mother cringe. I know, I know: even in middle age, my tiger mother looms, not to mention I still have occasional nightmares about missing seminar with my beloved, last advisor. His passing remains my excuse for academic desertion, but … Continue reading Anglophoned Fiction Favorites — by Smithsonian BookDragon Terry Hong, part 1

Translation as Treason — Michael Dylan Welch on Translating Haiku

May GLLI Blog Series:  Japan in Translation, No. 11 Photo credit:  Greenhouse Fabrics In The Book of Tea, Kakuzo Okakura wrote that “Translation is always a treason, and as a Ming author observes, can at its best be only the reverse side of a brocade.” And so it seems to be—the art of translation is … Continue reading Translation as Treason — Michael Dylan Welch on Translating Haiku

Publisher Spotlight: Lavender Ink + Diálogos

  When I think of Lavender Ink, I immediately think of two things: poetry and New Orleans. Since its inception, Lavender Ink has been a supporter of poets in and around the Big Easy. In fact, the press co-created (and continues to co-host) the New Orleans Poetry Festival and Small Press Fair, an international poetry … Continue reading Publisher Spotlight: Lavender Ink + Diálogos

Literary Blogger Tony Malone on Translations of Natsume Sōseki

May GLLI Blog Series:  Japan in Translation, No. 10 Part of the joy of reading literature in translation comes from discovering new voices and enjoyable writing, and without the actual translator that wouldn’t be possible.  The words we read come not from the writer but their foreign-language representative: Yoko Ogawa’s sinister prose is really that … Continue reading Literary Blogger Tony Malone on Translations of Natsume Sōseki

Excerpt from Eto Mori’s DIVE!!

May GLLI Blog Series:  Japan in Translation, No. 9 Editor's note:  It's mind-blowing how instantly global we've become.  A little more than a week ago UK blogger Zoe Toft (Playing by the Book) posted an interview with translator Avery Fischer Udagawa, who is the contributor of today's post.  Avery, by the way, lives in Bangkok, … Continue reading Excerpt from Eto Mori’s DIVE!!