Translators are the unsung heroes of the literary world. They play a crucial role in bringing literary works from one language and culture to another, making them accessible to a global audience. Today, we celebrate the achievements of women translators from around the world who have made significant contributions to the world of literature.
Lydia Davis, USA
Lydia Davis is a celebrated American translator and author known for her translations of French literature, including works by Gustave Flaubert and Marcel Proust. She has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Man Booker International Prize for her body of work. Davis is known for her precise and concise translations, which reflect her own unique writing style.
Edith Grossman, USA
Edith Grossman is another prominent American translator known for her translations of Spanish and Latin American literature. Her notable translations include works by Gabriel García Márquez, Mario Vargas Llosa, and Miguel de Cervantes. Grossman has won numerous awards for her work, including the PEN/Ralph Manheim Medal for Translation in 2006.
Anthea Bell, UK
Anthea Bell was a British translator who specialized in translating children’s literature from German and French. Her notable translations include works by Cornelia Funke, Franz Kafka, and Stefan Zweig. Bell was known for her skillful and imaginative translations, which brought new life to beloved children’s classics.
Yoko Ogawa, Japan
Yoko Ogawa is a Japanese author and translator known for her translations of works by Western authors into Japanese, including works by Anne Tyler and John Updike. Ogawa is known for her poetic and sensitive translations, which reflect her own literary style.
Sophie Wilkins, Australia
Sophie Wilkins is an Australian translator known for her translations of Chinese literature into English. Her notable translations include works by Yu Hua, Yan Geling, and Wang Anyi. Wilkins has won numerous awards for her work, including the 2018 NSW Premier’s Translation Prize.
Ros Schwartz, France
Ros Schwartz is a British translator based in France who specializes in translating French literature into English. Her notable translations include works by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Tahar Ben Jelloun, and Maylis de Kerangal. Schwartz is known for her skillful and nuanced translations, which capture the essence of the original French text.
Deborah Smith, UK
Deborah Smith is a British translator known for her translations of Korean literature into English. Her notable translations include works by Han Kang, Bae Suah, and Jeong Yu-jeong. Smith has won numerous awards for her work, including the Man Booker International Prize in 2016 for her translation of Han Kang’s novel “The Vegetarian”.
Venuti, Lawrence, USA
Lawrence Venuti is an American translator known for his translations of Italian literature into English. His notable translations include works by Dante, Italo Calvino, and Umberto Eco. Venuti is known for his theoretical work on translation, which emphasizes the importance of preserving the cultural and linguistic differences of the original text.
Sevin Okyay, Turkey
Sevin Okyay is a Turkish literary critic, journalist, and translator who has made significant contributions to the world of literature. She began her career as a translator in 1963 and is best known for her widely praised translation of the Harry Potter series into Turkish. Okyay is considered a milestone of modern translation in Turkey and has inspired a generation of Turkish translators.
These women translators from around the world have made significant contributions to the world of literature, and their unique cultural backgrounds and experiences have undoubtedly influenced their translations. By celebrating their achievements, we honor their work and acknowledge the vital role that translators play in making literature accessible to a global audience.