Category: Literary Awards

Fiction, Literary Awards, Speculative, Translation

In Yoko Tawada’s The Emissary the future is, predictably, bleak.

Title: The Emissary Author: Yoko Tawada Translator:  Margaret Mitsutani Publisher: New Directions Books, New York (2018) ISBN:  978 0 8112 2762 9 In Yoko Tawada’s The Emissary the future is, somewhat predictably, bleak. Japanese children are frail and infirm creatures, cared for by grandparents and great-grandparents who remain strong and vigorous well past the hundred-year mark. The two main characters, Yoshiro and his great-grandson Mumei, live … Continue reading In Yoko Tawada’s The Emissary the future is, predictably, bleak.

tolmsted3 Comments
Fiction, Horror, Literary Awards, Mystery, Novella, Translation

Spring Crime Spree: Murder Most Serene by Gabrielle Wittkop (tr. Louise Rogers Lalaurie)

Title:  Murder Most Serene Author:  Gabrielle Wittkop Translator:  Louise Rogers Lalaurie Publisher:  Wakefield Press, Cambridge (2015) ISBN:  978 1 939663 14 6 Murder Most Serene is a study in contrasts.  It is a tale of two cities, one above and one below, during the month and years preceding Napoleon’s invasion of the then Republic of Venice. The inhabitants, fully cognizant that history is catching up … Continue reading Spring Crime Spree: Murder Most Serene by Gabrielle Wittkop (tr. Louise Rogers Lalaurie)

tolmsted4 Comments
Advance Review Copy, Fiction, History, Literary Awards, Translation

The Pope’s Daughter by Dario Fo (Antony Shugaar, translator)

Title:  The Pope’s Daughter Author:  Dario Fo Translator:  Antony Shugaar Publisher:  Europa Editions, New York (2015) ISBN:  978 1 60945 274 2 Dario Fo – playwright, comedian, Nobel Laureate  –  is an admirer of the 16th century form of street theater known as commedia dell’arte. These roving theatrical troupes employed masks, improvisation, wordplay and slapstick comedy to entertain the masses. The actors and actresses performed broad … Continue reading The Pope’s Daughter by Dario Fo (Antony Shugaar, translator)

tolmstedLeave a comment
Biography, Challenge, Editorial, Fiction, Literary Awards, News, Translation, Update

Random Updates: What I’m Reading, WIT Month Cometh, Summer Holiday Reading & Two Translation Awards Get Together

I’m currently enjoying The Brotherhood of Book Hunters by Raphaël Jerusalmy – a swashbuckling Alexander Dumas kind of tale translated from the French by Howard Curtis.  It’s completely charming!  The two main characters remind me quite a bit of Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd & the Gray Mouser.  Jerusalmy has taken what’s best about sword & sorcery fiction and moved it into a historical setting – 15th century … Continue reading Random Updates: What I’m Reading, WIT Month Cometh, Summer Holiday Reading & Two Translation Awards Get Together

tolmsted7 Comments
Fiction, Literary Awards, Translation

Faces In the Crowd by Valeria Luiselli, translated from Spanish by Christina MacSweeney

Title:  Faces In The Crowd Author:  Valeria Luiselli Translator:  Christina MacSweeney Publisher:  Coffee House Press, Minneapolis (2014) ISBN:  978 1 56689 354 1 *This review contains spoilers* Subway trains make me think of Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity. Not all the time, obviously. But sometimes a train will be moving in a dark tunnel and a second train will overtake it.  They will run on parallel tracks … Continue reading Faces In the Crowd by Valeria Luiselli, translated from Spanish by Christina MacSweeney

tolmsted6 Comments