Best Translation of the Year, the meaning of world literature, and polyglot worldviews
Now that we’re nearing the end of the year, it’s time once again for people to debate the future of the book publishing industry. Will print publishing be totally replaced by digital publishing and ebooks in the future? Will we ever grow tired of reading novels? The links below explore these ideas and more.
News, Reviews, and Interviews
Typographical Era is hosting its very first translation award! Vote for your top pick from this year’s best translations, including Mo Yan’s Sandalwood Death, published by our friends at the University of Oklahoma Press.
Does the language you speak determine your personality or worldview? If so, what does that mean for people who speak multiple languages?
As a book becomes more popular worldwide, does its literary style change? Tim Parks, writing for the New York Review of Books, wonders.
An intriguing question from Marcia Lynx Qualey at Arabic Literature (in English): what is Arabic science fiction and who gets to write it?
While “world literature” certainly sounds like a good idea, does the term actually live up to its name?
Because nonfiction is perceived to tackle real-world problems more head-on than fiction, does it means that the genre is more relevant to readers?
A new article at the Huffington Post blog ruminates that the future of print literature is bleak, but another article at the New Yorker rallies against the death of the novel. Who will be correct? Time will tell.
The nominees for the 2014 IMPAC Dublic Award have been announced. Congrats to all authors, translators, and publishers who made the cut!
The Times Literary Supplement is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, which was published on November 14, 1913.
For Your Calendar
The Poetry Society of America has extended the deadline for the Walt Whitman Award to December 1.
English PEN and Granta are co-hosting a discussion panel about writing in conflict. The panel takes place November 26 at Wolfson & Tay Bookshop in London, and tickets are required.
Fun Finds and Inspiration
You know you’ve encountered these types of people at literary events before!
Looking for something to watch this weekend? Why not try one of these films, which, according to PolicyMic, give Middle Eastern women “the voice they deserve.”
Ever heard of Translation Idol? It’s an awesome translation competition hosted in Berlin by fellow lit mag No Man’s Land.
A new set of classic books, which includes the likes of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Shakespeare, is setting its sights on a new audience: teething toddlers.
How many of these top UK literary prizes can you name?
The city of Kraków was recently named the next UNESCO City of Literature. Here’s a list of essential Polish authors you need to read.
