All our events are open to the public, but places are limited. If you would like to attend, please contact Dr Rajendra Chitnis (R.A.Chitnis@bris.ac.uk).
This workshop will focus on the work of national, international and third-sector promoters of literature in translation. We aim to understand better the nature of their work, its aims and priorities, how its success is measured and the challenges faced. Our speakers include Erica Jarnes from English PEN, Gabriela Mocan from the Romanian Cultural Institute in London, and Sophie Wardell from the Free Word Centre. We would especially welcome the participation of representatives from national cultural centres and embassies in London and representatives of third-sector organisations that promote literary translation. Admission is free and refreshments will be provided. To book a place or for more information, please e-mail Rajendra Chitnis at R.A.Chitnis@bris.ac.uk
Venue: Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3GA
This conference will bring together researchers in individual national literatures, comparative literature, translation studies and related fields to explore comparatively the mechanisms through which the literatures of small European nations endeavour to reach the cultural mainstream, and to examine the extent to which these literatures may constitute a specific ‘literary system’ in their relationship with that mainstream. The call for papers may be viewed here.
Venue: Clifton Hill House, University of Bristol, Lower Clifton Hill, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1BX
How does the literature of smaller European nations, written in less well-known languages from less familiar traditions, reach a wider European audience? This workshop invites participants to engage in an exploration of the roles played by translators, agents, publishers and others in selecting a text for translation, publication and promotion abroad. How are translations ‘choreographed’ between various intermediaries? What makes for a good ‘dance’? And why do some books stumble and fall?
Introducing our discussion with reflections on their own experiences will be: Vladislav Bajac (Geopoetika, Belgrade), Susan Curtis-Kojakovic (Istros Books), Margaret Jull Costa (translator, Portuguese and Spanish literature) and Nicole Witt (Literary Agency Mertin, Frankfurt).
Vladislav Bajac is founder and president of Belgrade-based Geopoetika Publishing. He is an award-winning and widely translated novelist, poet, publisher, journalist and translator. His Balkanika Award winning novel Hamam Balkania (transl. by Randall Major) was published by Istros Books in 2014. Susan Curtis-Kojakovic founded the publishing house Istros Books in 2010, focusing on promoting works of quality contemporary literature from South East Europe in translation. Margaret Jull Costa is the multi-award-winning translator of Jose Saramago, Fernando Pessoa, Eco de Queiroz, Javier Marias and many others. Nicole Witt represents one of Europe's leading literary agencies, focusing on Portuguese- and Spanish-language literature.
Places for this workshop are limited. We would especially welcome the participation of anyone who plays or has played a part in the choreography of translation. If you would like to attend, please contact Jakob Stougaard-Nielsen (j.stougaard-nielsen@ucl.ac.uk).
This workshop will be held in conjunction with European Literature Night 2015, with the kind support of the European Department at the British Library and the Czech Centre London.
Venue: The British Library Conference Centre, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB
This workshop will be held in conjunction with one of the UK's leading independent bookshops, Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights, which has a proud record of promoting less well known literatures in translation. The workshop will focus on the reader and those, like booksellers and publishers, who need to take readers' views into account. We would welcome the participation of local readers and reading groups as we explore attitudes, reading habits and preferences with Nic Bottomley (Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights), Stephanie Seegmuller (COO, Pushkin Press) and Simon Winder (publishing director, Penguin Press).
Venue: Elwin Room, The Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, 16 Queen Square, Bath BA1 2HN
Light refreshments will be provided.
