‘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.

Oxford-Weidenfeld Translation Prize: Shortlist Announced

The shortlist for the 2013 Oxford-Weidenfeld Translation Prize has been announced, with six translators in the running for the award:

This year’s entry was bigger and more varied than ever, with 135 books submitted by 48 publishers. Twentieth-century history continued to be a dominant theme, an emphasis which is reflected in our shortlist. A mastery of genres, tones, and registers, as well as of complex and often traumatic subject matter, characterizes the titles chosen in 2013.

Guest judge Adam Thorpe will now join the Oxford-based judges Rebecca Beasley, Eleanor David, and Freya Johnston.

The winner will be announced on 6th June at St Anne’s College, Oxford. All are welcome to attend this celebration, at which the shortlisted translators will read from their work and Adam Thorpe will present the prize. The event begins at 6pm.

The 2012 Winner

The winner of the 2012 Oxford-Weidenfeld Translation Prize was announced on the 7th June. The prize was awarded to Judith Landry for her translation of New Finnish Grammar by Diego Marani (Dedalus). Judith Landry was chosen from a shortlist of 6 translators:

• John Ashbery for Illuminations by Arthur Rimbaud (Carcanet)
• Margaret Jull Costa for Seven Houses in France by Bernardo Atxaga (Harvill Secker)
• Howard Curtis for How I Lost the War by Filippo Bologna (Pushkin)
• Rosalind Harvey for Down the Rabbit Hole by Juan Pablo Villalobos (And Other Stories)
• Judith Landry for New Finnish Grammar by Diego Marani (Dedalus)
• Martin McLaughlin for Into the War by Italo Calvino (Penguin)

The judges said: This year’s entry was both very strong and very numerous, with 102 books being submitted by 44 publishers. Twentieth-century history was a prominent theme, an emphasis which has carried through into our shortlist. Genre fiction, especially crime, was well represented in the entry this year; but there was hardly any drama. Finally, we wish to record our appreciation of the many interesting prefaces and introductions which helped orient our reading of the translations.

The prize was presented by guest judge Marina Warner. You can view the full text of Marina's speech as a PDF Document.

Photos from the event can also be viewed on the Oxford Student PEN facebook page. (Please note that this is an external website: its content does not necessarily represent the views of the Governing Body of St Anne's College.)

‘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)