‘Translation is not a matter of words only: it is a matter of making intelligible a whole culture.’ (Anthony Burgess)

The Oxford-Weidenfeld Prize is for book-length literary translations into English from any living European language. It aims to honour the craft of translation, and to recognise its cultural importance. It is funded by Lord Weidenfeld and by New College, The Queen’s College and St Anne’s College, Oxford.

How to Enter

• The closing date for entries is 31 January 2012.
• To be eligible, a translation must be a work of fiction, poetry or drama written in any living European language by any author living or dead.
• It must be a book published for the first time in the year 2011 and must be distributed in the UK.
• It may be the work of up to three translators.
• Four copies of each translation must be submitted. It will not be possible to return them.
• Entries should be accompanied by a statement of the date of publication and a contact address and telephone number.
• The judges will consider the quality of the translation as well as the importance of the original work and the value of its being put into English.
• Enquiries may be addressed to jocelyn.english(at)st-annes.ox.ac.uk
• Entries should be sent to:

Further Information

• This year, Marina Warner will join the judging panel alongside the Oxford academics Ann Jefferson, Rebecca Beasley, Freya Johnston and Matthew Reynolds (Chair)
• The shortlist will be announced in May 2012.
• The prize of £2000 will be awarded to the winning translator or translators at a dinner at St Anne’s College on Thursday 7 June 2012.
• All shortlisted translators will have the opportunity to read from and discuss their work at this event.

‘Common European thought is the fruit of the immense toil of translators. Without translators, Europe would not exist; translators are more important than members of the European Parliament.’ (Milan Kundera)