The London Book Fair opens today, back in person for the first time since 2019.
Literary-translation-focused events this year emphasize power relationships in translation, with an extra boost for Arabic literature this year, especially Emirati literature, as Sharjah is the year’s “market focus.” Several Arabic-English literary translators are speaking at panel events, including Nariman Youssef, Alice Guthrie, Sawad Hussain, Katharine Halls, and Marilyn Booth. A handful of Emirati writers will also be speaking, including poets Khalid AlBudoor and Afra Atiq, and novelist Dubai Abulhoul.
Below are a few of the highlights. The complete list of events can be found at londonbookfair.co.uk.
Tuesday, April 5
- The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Translator/Author Relationships
- Clare Richards. Translator, Kari Dickson, Translator, Nariman Youssef, Literary Translator
- Literary Translation Centre12:10 – 12:55
- Translating non-European literatures
- Olivia Snaije, Journalist, Maithreyi Karnoor, Writer and Translator, Alice Guthrie, Arabic Translator and Editor, Katja Zakrajsek, Slovenian Translator
- Literary Translation Centre15:25 – 16:10
Wednesday, April 6
- Pitching and Access: The Pandemic-Era Professions
- Anton Hur, Translator, Dr. Elena Pala, Translator, Dr. Kavita Bhanot, Writer, Researcher, Editor, Translator, Literaturemustfall, Nichola Smalley, Publicity Director / Translator, And Other Stories
- Literary Translation Centre10:00 – 10:45
- Computer-assisted literary translation
- Professor Duncan Large, Academic Director, British Centre for Literary Translation, Dr. Marion Winters, Senior Lecturer, Heriot-Watt University, Dr. Roy Youdale, Research Associate in Translation Studies, University of Bristol, Gosia Cabaj, Head of Information Services Northwestern Europe, Goethe Institute London
- Literary Translation Centre11:05 – 11:50
- Questioning neutrality
- Ayesha Siddqi, Writer, Sawad Hussain, Arabic Translator, Eluned Gramich, Writer and Translator, National Library of Wales, Lúcia Collischonn, PhD Candidate and Literary Translator, University of Warwick
- Literary Translation Centre13:15 – 14:00
- The Knowledge Gap – what is lost when we don’t translate?
- Erica Hesketh, Chief Executive, Poetry Translation Centre, Diana Bellessi, Author, Leo Boix, Poet and Translator
- Literary Translation Centre15:25 – 16:10
- Pitching and Access: New Opportunities
- Dr. Kavita Bhanot, Writer, Researcher, Editor, Translator, Literaturemustfall, Gersy Ifeanyi Ejimofo, Founder, DAS Editions | DBB Afropolitan Digital Limited, Lisette Verhagen, Literary Agent, Peters Fraser + Dunlop, Will Forrester, Translation and International Manager, English PEN
- Literary Translation Centre16:30 – 17:15
- Emirati Women Writers, Shaping the Country’s Literary Scene
- Dr. Afra Atiq, Emirati Poet, Spoken Word Artist and PhD Candidate, Dubai Abulhoul, Founder, Fiker Institute, Katherine Halls, Arabic-English translator & Agent, 10/11
- Sharjah Book Authority Stand 7J1111:30 – 12:30
Thursday, April 7
- Khalid AlBudoor in conversation with Erica Hesketh
- Khalid Albudoor, Poet
- English PEN Literary Salon10:30 – 11:15
- Less translated?: a conversation with BCLT Translators in Residence Sawad Hussain and Laura McGloughlin, hosted by the Less Translated
- Laura McGloughlin, Literary Translator, Dr. Olivia Hellewell, Translator, Slovene, Sawad Hussain, Arabic Translator
- Literary Translation Centre11:05 – 11:50
- Literary translation and book fairs: debate
- Daniel Hahn, Translator, Writer and Editor, Rachel Stevens, Director Literature, British Council
- Literary Translation Centre13:15 – 14:00
- Arabic and English Translation: Trends and Possibilities
- Nariman Youssef, Literary Translator, H.E. Omar Ghobash, Assistant Minister for Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation UAE, Will Mackie, Senior Programme Manager, New Writing North, Marilyn Booth
- Literary Translation Centre14:20 – 15:05