1 hr 12 min
Episode 228 with Jennifer Croft, Author of The Extinction of Irena Rey and Award-Winning Translator, and Master of Worldbuilding, Highly-Allegorical Yet Masterfully-Plotted Fiction, and Nuance The Chills at Will Podcast
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- Books
Notes and Links to Jennifer Croft’s Work
For Episode 228, Pete welcomes Jennifer Croft, and the two discuss, among other topics, her early relationship with words and geography and later, multilingualism, formative colleagues and teachers who guided and inspired her love of languages and literary translation, her serendipitous path to focusing on Polish and Spanish translations, connections between cultural nuances and translation, and literal and allegorical signposts in her book, including climate change and celebrity “brands,” the fluidity of translation, the relationships between translators and original writing, the intriguing phenomenon that is amadou, and time and perspective and their connections to translation.
Jennifer Croft won a 2022 Guggenheim Fellowship for her novel The Extinction of Irena Rey, the 2020 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing for her illustrated memoir Homesick, and the 2018 International Booker Prize for her translation of Olga Tokarczuk’s Flights. A two-time National Book Award–honoree, Croft is Presidential Professor of English & Creative Writing at the University of Tulsa.
Buy The Extinction of Irena Rey
Jennifer's Wikipedia Page
Review of The Extinction of Irena Rey in The New York Times
Jennifer Discusses her Book with Scott Simon on NPR’s Weekend Edition
At about 2:40, Jennifer discusses the feedback she’s gotten, and the overall experience that has governed the weeks since the book’s March 6 publication
At about 3:40, Shout out to the coolest envelope ever, and to Emily Fishman at Bloomsbury Publishing
At about 4:20, Jennifer talks about the influences that led to her curiosity about reading and geography and knowledge
At about 5:55, Jennifer lays out the books that she was reading in her childhood, and talks about books and writing as ways of “traveling”
At about 8:15, Jennifer talks about inspirations from her reading, including working with Yevgeny Yevtushenko
At about 10:15, Jennifer expounds upon her journey in learning new languages, and how learning Spanish and Polish were connected
At about 13:15, Jennifer and Pete talk about the greatness of Jorge Luis Borges, and Pete shouts out the unforgettable “The Gospel According to Mark”
At about 14:15, Jennifer charts what makes her MFA in Literary Translation different than translation on its own
At about 15:30, Jennifer recounts her experiences in Poland when she was there during the time of Pope John Paul II’s death
At about 17:35, Jennifer talks about the art of translation and how she has evolved in her craft over the years
At about 20:45, Pete uses a Marquez translation as an example of a seemingly-absurd rendering, while Jennifer provides a balanced view of translation challenges
At about 22:30, Pete cites some of the gushing blurbs for the book and asks Jennifer about seeds for the book; she cites a genesis in a nonfiction idea
At about 28:15, Pete reads a plot summary from the book jacket/promotional materials
At about 29:10, Pete and Jennifer discuss the book’s two narrators-Emilia the writer, and Alexis, her English translator-and their conflicts and devolutions
At about 33:40, Pete remarks on the strategic and highly-successful structure of the book
At about 34:20, Jennifer responds to Pete’s questions about her use of images throughout the book
At about 37:30, Jennifer discusses the “dishonest[y] of subjectivity” in discussing translation and the author/translator’s role in the writing
At about 38:20, Pete reads a few key lines from the book, including the powerful opening lines and gives some exposition of the book
At about 40:50, Jennifer responds to Pete’s questions about the importance of amadou in the book, and she expands on its many uses and history
At about 45:35, Jennifer expounds on ideas of the “mother tongue” as posited in the book, and uses examples from her own life to further reflect
At about 48:00, Incredibl
Notes and Links to Jennifer Croft’s Work
For Episode 228, Pete welcomes Jennifer Croft, and the two discuss, among other topics, her early relationship with words and geography and later, multilingualism, formative colleagues and teachers who guided and inspired her love of languages and literary translation, her serendipitous path to focusing on Polish and Spanish translations, connections between cultural nuances and translation, and literal and allegorical signposts in her book, including climate change and celebrity “brands,” the fluidity of translation, the relationships between translators and original writing, the intriguing phenomenon that is amadou, and time and perspective and their connections to translation.
Jennifer Croft won a 2022 Guggenheim Fellowship for her novel The Extinction of Irena Rey, the 2020 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing for her illustrated memoir Homesick, and the 2018 International Booker Prize for her translation of Olga Tokarczuk’s Flights. A two-time National Book Award–honoree, Croft is Presidential Professor of English & Creative Writing at the University of Tulsa.
Buy The Extinction of Irena Rey
Jennifer's Wikipedia Page
Review of The Extinction of Irena Rey in The New York Times
Jennifer Discusses her Book with Scott Simon on NPR’s Weekend Edition
At about 2:40, Jennifer discusses the feedback she’s gotten, and the overall experience that has governed the weeks since the book’s March 6 publication
At about 3:40, Shout out to the coolest envelope ever, and to Emily Fishman at Bloomsbury Publishing
At about 4:20, Jennifer talks about the influences that led to her curiosity about reading and geography and knowledge
At about 5:55, Jennifer lays out the books that she was reading in her childhood, and talks about books and writing as ways of “traveling”
At about 8:15, Jennifer talks about inspirations from her reading, including working with Yevgeny Yevtushenko
At about 10:15, Jennifer expounds upon her journey in learning new languages, and how learning Spanish and Polish were connected
At about 13:15, Jennifer and Pete talk about the greatness of Jorge Luis Borges, and Pete shouts out the unforgettable “The Gospel According to Mark”
At about 14:15, Jennifer charts what makes her MFA in Literary Translation different than translation on its own
At about 15:30, Jennifer recounts her experiences in Poland when she was there during the time of Pope John Paul II’s death
At about 17:35, Jennifer talks about the art of translation and how she has evolved in her craft over the years
At about 20:45, Pete uses a Marquez translation as an example of a seemingly-absurd rendering, while Jennifer provides a balanced view of translation challenges
At about 22:30, Pete cites some of the gushing blurbs for the book and asks Jennifer about seeds for the book; she cites a genesis in a nonfiction idea
At about 28:15, Pete reads a plot summary from the book jacket/promotional materials
At about 29:10, Pete and Jennifer discuss the book’s two narrators-Emilia the writer, and Alexis, her English translator-and their conflicts and devolutions
At about 33:40, Pete remarks on the strategic and highly-successful structure of the book
At about 34:20, Jennifer responds to Pete’s questions about her use of images throughout the book
At about 37:30, Jennifer discusses the “dishonest[y] of subjectivity” in discussing translation and the author/translator’s role in the writing
At about 38:20, Pete reads a few key lines from the book, including the powerful opening lines and gives some exposition of the book
At about 40:50, Jennifer responds to Pete’s questions about the importance of amadou in the book, and she expands on its many uses and history
At about 45:35, Jennifer expounds on ideas of the “mother tongue” as posited in the book, and uses examples from her own life to further reflect
At about 48:00, Incredibl
1 hr 12 min