The three percent rule, Turkish literature, and a long-forgotten library book
Happy Friday, WLT readers! This week’s links are full of more literary announcements, as well as several new and exciting discussions about translation—where it stands, how it is viewed, and how it affects people around the world. Enjoy!
News, Reviews, and Interviews
The Independent Foreign Fiction Prize longlist was announced this week.
Yale University gave out nine large “global literary prizes” this week, but only four winners were non-American.
A new study from Literature Across Frontiers shows that only 2.5 percent of all publications in the British isles are translations.
What would you do to write or read a single verse of poetry? Women in Afghanistan often risk their lives for the art they love.
Room to Read is most likely a children’s book publisher you've never heard of, but it publishes books in over 25 languages.
Patricio Pron recently described the act of translation as a welcome opportunity to explore new voices other than the author's.
Turkish literature will be the subject of this year’s London Book Fair. But where does Turkish translation fit between Eastern and Western cultures?
For Your Calendar
If you’re located in or around the Raleigh, North Carolina area and love Europa Editions, you have the chance to meet Michael Reynolds, Europa's Editor in Chief on March 26.
On Monday, March 18, Robin Robertson and Alice Oswald will read at the Somerset House in London.
Fun Finds and Inspiration
This title doesn’t need any further explanation: “The Average Fourth Grader Is a Better Poet Than You (and Me Too)” at the Poetry Foundation.
Can illustration do everything that photography cannot? This video explores that question and a few more.
Transparent Language has a free “Word of the Day” series for many languages, including Latin, Dari, Hindi, and Pashto.
How many typefaces can you find in New York City at night? About as many as you can find restaurants.
The Library of Unborrowed Books is a new New York-based art exhibit where readers despairing over not being able to read every book can find a few kindred spirits. (And the Page-Turner has rounded up a few more book-themed art exhibits for even more fun!)
The Guardian recently praised the art of making up new words.
A library book checked out in Estonia in 1944 was finally returned this week, 69 years later.
