It's Lit in Translation

Welcome to It's Lit in Translation. The podcast that champions literature in translation and the people who make it possible.In our today's episode, we were joined by Ian Giles, the prolific translator who has brought over 40 Scandinavian titles into English. Guiding us through his experiences translating commercial fiction to the 2023 August Prize winner, Bloody Awful in Different Ways, he shares his valuable insight into what different texts require of him as a translator.We discussed his translation of Andrev Walden's Bloody Awful in Different Ways, delving into the challenges of translating a text that says a lot in not many words. Ian also takes us through his process translating non-fiction and autofictional works into English, and about the responsibility one assumes when embarking on a project where fact is almost always stranger than fiction.As Ian mentions, you can get a copy of Bloody Awful in Different Ways for the low low price of £9.99. Get yours today. Chapters:0:00 - Introduction01:10 - Ian's introduction04:29 - Ian's first encounter with translation07:48 - Ian's journey as a translator11:37 - On developing a voice as a translator15:16 - How Ian's translations have evolved19:21 - Bloody Awful in Different Ways summary20:20 - Translating Bloody Awful in Different Ways30:42 - On tone and humour34:45 - On childhood and child narrators38:05 - Talking characters41:57 - On translating non-fiction and biographies49:50 - Involving the author in the translation process55:30 - The 'Bloody Awful in Different Ways' Title1:00:44 - Which characters were the most fun to work with?1:05:00 - Translators and their magic hands1:08:42 - On keeping multiple languages active1:15:00 - Aspirational future projects1:20:00 - Advice for aspiring literary translators-Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/el-depravo/tarnished-rosePhoto Credit: Camila França.

Welcome to It's Lit in Translation. The podcast that champions literature in translation and the people who make it possible. In our first episode, Italian translator Antonella Lettieri joins the pod to discuss her journey into literary translation. Guiding us through her path from commercial to literary translation, while explaining how to pitch yourself, Lettieri dives into her experience and offers invaluable advice for emerging translators. We discussed her translation of Matteo Melchiorre's epic novel, The Duke, in great depth, as well as her translation of Maria Grazia Calendrone's memoir, Your Little Matter. We spoke about her fascination with language from an early age, the sense of responsibility in translating non-fiction compared to a novel, and the importance of believing in one's work. Chapters:0:00 - Introduction01:12 - Antonella's introduction01:54 - Childhood fascination with language03:51 - Transitioning from commercial to literary translation11:08 - Translating from Italian into English16:28 - On producing translations23:34 - The Duke28:22 - Challenges in translation33:15 - Working with Melchiorre37:44 - The Duke summary and analysis47:40 - How does literary translation work?52:53 - Translation process for Your Little Matter54:08 - Your Little Matter summary01:01:47 - Which translated fiction novel would you highly recommend to listeners?01:04:01 - Advice for literary translators- Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/el-depravo/tarnished-rosePhoto Credit: Megan Taylor