It's Lit in Translation

Evelyn Heis (@amuchneededbreak)
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Welcome to It’s Lit in Translation, the podcast celebrating literature in translation and the people who make it possible. Each episode features an interview with translators from around the world about the books they bring into English, the creative choices behind their work, and what it truly means to carry a story from one language to another.

Episodes

  1. Kat Storace on photography, memory, and translating Before the Rocket

    2d ago

    Kat Storace on photography, memory, and translating Before the Rocket

    Welcome to It’s Lit in Translation: the podcast that champions literature in translation and the people who make it possible. In today’s episode, Maltese editor and literary translator Kat Storace joins the pod to discuss her translation of Loranne Vella's Before The Rocket. Kat also dives into her work of bringing Maltese literature to English-language readers as the co-founder of Praspar Press. Kat takes us through her journey into literary translation, reflecting on the unexpected path that led her into the field and the mentorship that helped shape her career. We discuss the co-founding of Praspar Press and the importance of creating space for Maltese literature within the English-speaking publishing world, as well as the opportunities and challenges involved in representing a literary culture that remains largely undertranslated. We dive into her translation of Before the Rocket, a genre-defying novel set in Malta in 2064 that blends speculative fiction with dystopian storytelling. Kat shares her experience of translating a work deeply concerned with photography, memory, and time, discussing the challenge of rendering vivid photographic descriptions for readers despite the absence of any actual images within the text. Together, we explore the novel’s themes of climate change, colonialism, community resilience, and the relationship between images and storytelling. We also discuss the practical and creative decisions involved in translating Maltese literature into English, from preserving culturally specific language and place names to balancing accessibility with a strong sense of the novel’s Maltese identity. It is absolutely fascinating to hear Kat discuss the role translation plays in expanding access to underrepresented literary traditions, as well as the many considerations involved in bringing a distinctly Maltese story to an international readership. — You can purchase a copy of Before The Rocket by Loranne Vella, translated by Kat Storace, here: https://www.praspar.com/product/before-the-rocket — Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/ Photo Credit: KT Bruce

    1h 5m
  2. Ross Benjamin on fascism, film, and being shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize

    May 13

    Ross Benjamin on fascism, film, and being shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize

    Welcome to It’s Lit in Translation: the podcast that champions literature in translation and the people who make it possible. This year, in collaboration with the International Booker Prize, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing the shortlisted panel of translators ahead of this year’s Prize announcement. In today’s episode, award-winning translator of German literature Ross Benjamin joins the pod to discuss his translation of The Director by Daniel Kehlmann, shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize. Ross takes us through his journey into literary translation, reflecting on his early encounters with translated literature through Grimm’s fairy tales, Bible stories, and French poetry, before eventually developing a deep connection to German language and literature. We discuss how translation became, for him, an extension of reading itself: a form of intense attentiveness that shaped both his literary sensibilities and his craft as a writer. We dive into his translation of Daniel Kehlmann's The Director, a historical novel centred on Austrian film director G.W. Pabst during the rise of the Nazi regime. Ross shares the challenges of translating a work that moves so deftly between horror, satire, absurdity, and psychological tension, discussing the importance of preserving the novel’s tonal volatility without over-amplifying or flattening its effects. We also explore the novel’s cinematic quality, the role of silence and hesitation in dialogue, and the moral questions surrounding complicity, artistic integrity, and self-deception under authoritarianism. Together, we discuss the delicate process of translating humour and historical voice, including Ross’s fascinating approach to the character Rupert Worcester, whose voice draws on the world of P.G. Wodehouse. Ross also reflects on the extensive research involved in the translation process, from watching archival footage and films to recreating the atmosphere of 1930s Europe for contemporary readers. It is absolutely fascinating to hear Ross discuss translation as a craft of calibration, revision, and close listening, as well as the role translated literature plays in preserving cultural difference and expanding the possibilities of reading beyond borders. - You can purchase a copy of The Director by Daniel Kehlmann, translated by Ross Benjamin, here: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/it-s-lit-in-translation - Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/el-depravo/tarnished-rose Photo Credit: David Schloss

    1h 44m
  3. Padma Viswanathan on translating to build community and being shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize

    May 10

    Padma Viswanathan on translating to build community and being shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize

    Welcome to It’s Lit in Translation: the podcast that champions literature in translation and the people who make it possible. This year, in collaboration with the International Booker Prize, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing the shortlisted panel of translators ahead of this year’s Prize announcement. In today’s episode, Canadian-American writer and literary translator Padma Viswanathan joins the pod to discuss her translation of On Earth as It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize. Padma takes us through her journey into literary translation, reflecting on her early exposure to translation through the Bhagavad Gita and the role language and literature have played throughout her life. We discuss how her interest in Brazil, through music and the Portuguese language, gradually evolved into a translation practice, as well as the many experiences that shaped her approach to language, close reading, and storytelling. We dive into her translation of On Earth as It Is Beneath, discussing the challenge of capturing the swiftness, atmosphere, and intensity of Ana Paula Maia’s prose while preserving the novel’s striking visual and emotional force. Padma shares her thoughtful translation philosophy, including her decision to avoid footnotes in favour of maintaining the reader’s immersion, and reflects on the delicate balance between cultural specificity and readability in translated literature. Together, we explore the novel’s themes of violence, morality, confinement, religion, and power, unpacking the symbolic connections between the penal colony and the former enslaved plantation at the centre of the text. We also discuss the humour and humanity that run throughout the novel, and the importance of allowing readers to fully inhabit the world of the book without interruption. It is absolutely fascinating to hear Padma discuss translation as both a craft and an art form, as well as the attentiveness, confidence, and care required to bring a literary work into another language. - You can purchase a copy of On Earth As It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, translated by Padma Viswanathan, here: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/it-s-lit-in-translation - Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/el-depravo/tarnished-rose Photo Credit: Alex Tram

    1h 17m
  4. Lin King on colonialism, food as politics, and being shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize

    May 9

    Lin King on colonialism, food as politics, and being shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize

    Welcome to It's Lit in Translation. The podcast that champions literature in translation and the people who make it possible. This year, in collaboration with the International Booker Prize, I've had the privilege of interviewing the shortlisted panel of translators ahead of the Prize announcement. In today's episode, writer and literary translator from Taiwan, Lin King, joins the pod to discuss her translation of the IBP-shortlisted novel, Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ. Based between Taipei and New York, Lin takes us through her journey into literary translation, reflecting on growing up between languages, discovering literature through translation, and the path that eventually led her to champion Taiwanese voices in the Anglophone world. We dive into the layered complexities of translating Taiwan Travelogue, discussing the challenge of preserving historical specificity, cultural nuance, and the novel’s rich culinary vocabulary while making the text accessible to English-language readers. Lin shares her thoughtful approach to footnotes, the importance of retaining the texture of Taiwanese history within the novel, and the many considerations involved in translating a work so deeply rooted in language, colonialism, and memory. Together, we explore the novel’s themes of tourism, empire, food, and power, unpacking the uneasy dynamics between cultural appreciation and appropriation that emerge throughout the text. We also discuss the book’s queer undercurrents, the symbolism of travel and infrastructure, and the role fiction can play in fostering empathy and transcending borders. It is absolutely fascinating to hear Lin discuss her translation process and to learn about the many steps that took place for us to access this novel in English. - You can purchase a copy of Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ (published by And Other Stories) and translated by Lin King from Mandarin, here: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/it-s-lit-in-translation - Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/el-depravo/tarnished-rose Photo Credit: Annette An-Jen Liu

    2h 1m
  5. Izidora Angel on translation as migration, art birthing more art, and being shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize

    May 6

    Izidora Angel on translation as migration, art birthing more art, and being shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize

    Welcome to It's Lit in Translation. The podcast that champions literature in translation and the people who make it possible. This year, in collaboration with the International Booker Prize, I've had the privilege of interviewing the shortlisted panel of translators ahead of the Prize announcement. In today's episode, writer and literary translator from Bulgarian, Izidora Angel, joins the pod to discuss her translation of the IBP-shortlisted novel, She Who Remains by Rene Karabash. Taking us through her early life as a Bulgarian immigrant living in the United States, Izidora shares about her upbringing in between two cultures and languages. Later on, this straddling between the two is what would lead her to pursue translation, bringing over Bulgarian literature into English in a similar journey of migration. We dive into her translation of the IBP-shortlisted She Who Remains, which is a compelling and hallucinogenic stream-of-consciousness novel about the ways female autonomy is hindered under patriarchy. Izidora described her process of reading and translating this novel as a very physically reactive one, in which She Who Remains creates a universe for you to experience and ask yourself questions about lies/truths, woman/man, good/bad, and who dictates these quandaries. Given that this is a novel about gender transformations, it was extremely fascinating to hear about the challenges involved with the original, given that Bulgarian is a very gendered language, and about the creative liberties Izidora undertook to capture the same captivating effect in English. We also spoke about Izidora's own writing and her involvement with Third Coast Translators Collective: an international community of literary translators in Chicago, and about the benefits of community. It is absolutely fascinating to hear Izidora discuss her translation process and to learn about the many steps that took place for us to access this novel in English. - You can purchase a copy of She Who Remains by Rene Karabash (published by Peirene Press) and translated by Izidora Angel from Bulgarian, here: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/it-s-lit-in-translation You can read an excerpt from Izidora Angel's upcoming memoir, Solomon's Daughter, here: https://theamericanscholar.org/banana-yellow-trabants/ - Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/el-depravo/tarnished-rose Photo Credit: Izidora Angel

    1h 24m
  6. Jordan Stump on wandering through languages, the magic of time, and being shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize

    May 4

    Jordan Stump on wandering through languages, the magic of time, and being shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize

    Welcome to It's Lit in Translation. The podcast that champions literature in translation and the people who make it possible. This year, in collaboration with the International Booker Prize, I've had the privilege of interviewing the shortlisted panel of translators ahead of the Prize announcement. In today's episode, prolific and award-winning literary translator from French, Jordan Stump, joins the pod to discuss his translation of the IBP-shortlisted novel, The Witch by Marie Ndiaye. A professor of French at the University of Nebraska, Jordan takes us through his journey into literary translation: one that came merely by accident. We learn about his love for the French language and literature from a very early age, and how teaching Marie Ndiaye's work led him to pursue his translation of her latest seven works. We dive into his translation of IBP-shortlisted, The Witch, and how he had to become creative with the language to mimic the 'dreamlike' and 'uncanny' tone from the original, as well as some crow-shaped Easter eggs that later inform the plot. Sharing his in-depth process of producing his translation, we discussed some of the challenges he faced, particularly with bringing over the novel's cultural contexts and the history of French literary traditions that inform Marie's work that English readers might be less familiar with. It is absolutely fascinating to hear Jordan discuss his translation process and to learn about the many steps that took place for us to access this novel in English. - You can purchase a copy of The Witch by Marie Ndiaye (published by Quercus Books) and translated by Jordan Stump from French, here: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/it-s-lit-in-translation - Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/el-depravo/tarnished-rose Photo Credit: Jordan Stump

    1h 17m
  7. Ruth Martin on voyaging through books, finding community, and being shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize

    May 1

    Ruth Martin on voyaging through books, finding community, and being shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize

    Welcome to It's Lit in Translation. The podcast that champions literature in translation and the people who make it possible. This year, in collaboration with the International Booker Prize, I've had the privilege of interviewing the shortlisted panel of translators ahead of the Prize announcement. In today's episode, prolific literary translator from German, Ruth Martin, joins the pod to discuss her translation of the IBP-shortlisted novel, The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar. Taking us through her journey into literary translation, having fallen in love with German during secondary school, and later on, pursuing a PhD in German literature, Ruth shares about her relationship with language and the possibility of reading in other languages as the driving force towards pursuing German. We also learn about her translation process for the IBP-shortlisted novel, The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran, and what enticed her to translate this work. We learn about Ruth's very immersive translation process, in which she cooked, listened to music, and thoroughly researched to immerse herself in the novel's Iranian-German setting. It is absolutely fascinating to hear Ruth discuss her translation process and to learn about the many steps that took place for us to access this novel in English. Consider this episode "the longest Translator's note ever!" - You can purchase a copy of The Nights are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar (published by Scribe UK) and translated by Ruth Martin from German, here: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/it-s-lit-in-translation - Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/el-depravo/tarnished-rose Photo Credit: Michael Jershov

    47 min
  8. Megan McDowell on translation as an ongoing conversation

    Apr 28

    Megan McDowell on translation as an ongoing conversation

    Welcome to It's Lit in Translation. The podcast that champions literature in translation and the people who make it possible. In today's episode, we were joined by Megan McDowell, a highly acclaimed American literary translator known for bringing contemporary Latin American and Spanish literature to English audiences. She is best known for translating the works of the most important Latin American writers working today, including Alejandro Zambra, Samanta Schweblin, and Mariana Enriquez.  We spoke about her journey into literary translation and her 'non-traditional' route into publishing, which ultimately led her into translation. Megan shared how she began to work with the Spanish language, spent some time in Chile, and how her first translation gig came about. Diving into how her relationship with translation has changed since then, Megan sheds light on the alternative ways one can get started as a literary translator. Brenda Navarro’s Eating Ashes, published in 2025 by OneWorld, is her latest translation. We discussed the significance of not translating Spanish words in this translation as a signalling of isolation for the main character, alongside the symbolism behind the narrator's unnamed status. A novel that deals with racism and xenophobia that Latin American immigrants are exposed to within Europe, Megan highlights the importance of language to capture this experience. Megan also takes us through her translation process, in which translation transcends working from one language into another and becomes a transformative act that captures the emotions and sentiment of the original in another language. Lastly, we spoke about her role in translating the most important Latin American writers working today, from Alejandro Zambra and Samanta Schweblin to Mariana Enriquez, and how, for Megan, translation is never finished: there is never a 'right' or 'faithful' way to produce a text, when the craft itself is an ongoing conversation between writers, readers, cultures, literatures, and translators. - Eating Ashes by Brenda Navarro (published by OneWorld publications), translated from Spanish by Megan McDowell, is available to buy through here: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/it-s-lit-in-translation/ - Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/el-depravo/tarnished-rose Photo Credit: Megan McDowell

    1h 24m
  9. Richard Village on the joy of learning languages, the city as character, and launching Foundry Editions

    Mar 27

    Richard Village on the joy of learning languages, the city as character, and launching Foundry Editions

    Welcome to It's Lit in Translation. The podcast that champions literature in translation and the people who make it possible. In today's episode, we were joined by Richard Village: linguist, editor, literary translator, and founder of Foundry Editions. Guiding us through his love for languages in school and the passion that followed him well into his 50s, until he decided to pursue a Master's in literary translation, only to realise his dream had been to start a publishing house instead. Thus, Foundry Editions was born. We discussed his translation of Esther Garcia Llovet's Spanish Beauty and how he serendipitously encountered this title long before he intended to publish and, consequently, translate it. Richard takes us through his process of falling in love with literature where the city is a character in and of itself, and his relationship to Esther's novels and their exploration of British-Spanish social dynamics. We also discussed his translation of Sánchez, Esther's second novel, and what it was like to return to her cinematic depictions of the underside of Spanish cities. Lastly, Richard takes us through his first translation from Italian, Michele Masneri’s Paradiso, which is coming in May 2026. Taking us through Foundry's upcoming titles for the rest of 2026, Richard lets us into the mind of an editor and publisher, illustrating how many of these responsibilities overlap when it comes to translating and publishing novels. Foundry Editions was founded in 2023 out of a love of three things: a love for discovering and sharing new voices, a love for the Mediterranean and the people and lands that surround it, and a love of internationalism and reading across borders. To stay up to date with Foundry Editions' publications, why not purchase one of their book subscriptions? Find out more today: https://www.foundryeditions.co.uk/subscribe Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 02:56 - Richard's first encounter with translation 06:23 - Richard's love for languages 08:27 - On second chances, new beginnings, and changing careers at a later stage in life. The birth of Foundry Editions 13:40 - On languages and what Foundry Editions seeks to do 16:33 - Translator vs Editorial brain: who chooses what Foundry editions publish? 22:52 - Spanish Beauty 29:38 - On translating Spanish Beauty and working with Esther 26:53 - Working with the city as a character 36:55 - Sánchez 44:07 - What readers should take away from Esther's novels 47:59 - Paradiso 59:33 - Maps in Sánchez 01:01:24 - Footnotes in novels? The controversy unfolded 01:04:53 - How can one keep 4 languages active? 01:07:26 - Richard's book recommendations 01:09:44 - Any advice for literary translators or publishers? 01:13:38 - Baked beans x 01:13:49 - Farewell - Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/el-depravo/tarnished-rose Photo Credit: Richard Village

    1h 14m
  10. Ian Giles on decoding languages, using all the words, and translating Bloody Awful in Different Ways

    Feb 27

    Ian Giles on decoding languages, using all the words, and translating Bloody Awful in Different Ways

    Welcome to It's Lit in Translation. The podcast that champions literature in translation and the people who make it possible. In 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 - Introduction 01:10 - Ian's introduction 04:29 - Ian's first encounter with translation 07:48 - Ian's journey as a translator 11:37 - On developing a voice as a translator 15:16 - How Ian's translations have evolved 19:21 - Bloody Awful in Different Ways summary 20:20 - Translating Bloody Awful in Different Ways 30:42 - On tone and humour 34:45 - On childhood and child narrators 38:05 - Talking characters 41:57 - On translating non-fiction and biographies 49:50 - Involving the author in the translation process 55:30 - The 'Bloody Awful in Different Ways' Title 1:00:44 - Which characters were the most fun to work with? 1:05:00 - Translators and their magic hands 1:08:42 - On keeping multiple languages active 1:15:00 - Aspirational future projects 1:20:00 - Advice for aspiring literary translators - Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/el-depravo/tarnished-rose Photo Credit: Camila França.

    1h 24m
  11. Antonella Lettieri on literary translation, inventing the Duke's grammar, and the responsibility of translating a story

    Jan 30

    Antonella Lettieri on literary translation, inventing the Duke's grammar, and the responsibility of translating a story

    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 - Introduction 01:12 - Antonella's introduction 01:54 - Childhood fascination with language 03:51 - Transitioning from commercial to literary translation 11:08 - Translating from Italian into English 16:28 - On producing translations 23:34 - The Duke 28:22 - Challenges in translation 33:15 - Working with Melchiorre 37:44 - The Duke summary and analysis 47:40 - How does literary translation work? 52:53 - Translation process for Your Little Matter 54:08 - Your Little Matter summary 01:01:47 - 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-rose Photo Credit: Megan Taylor

    1h 9m
  • 11 Episodes

About

Welcome to It’s Lit in Translation, the podcast celebrating literature in translation and the people who make it possible. Each episode features an interview with translators from around the world about the books they bring into English, the creative choices behind their work, and what it truly means to carry a story from one language to another.

Information

  • Creator
    Evelyn Heis (@amuchneededbreak)
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Evelyn Heis (@amuchneededbreak)
  • Show Website
    It's Lit in Translation

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