Industry Insider – How we talk about reading translations

Literature in translation is booming, from bestsellers to cult hits hand-sold in independent bookshops. But it can be hard to find meaningful ways to talk about the ‘translated-ness’ of these books.

Reviewers often devote no more than a word or short phrase along the lines of ‘an X translation by Y’, if they mention it at all. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Join this discussion and hear a range of perspectives on how – whether we read for pleasure or professionally – we can all more thoughtfully communicate our experiences of reading translated literature.

#SoAatHome Industry Insider events – free for all + donation

Our #SoAatHome Industry Insider events are free for all but with a donation option when registering for the event.

All donations made go towards the Society of Authors’ Access Fund. The fund is to help provide authors support for travel, subsistence, childcare or access needs for events, residencies, and retreats. If you would like to make a donation with your booking, please do so when registering for the event below.

Programme

• Welcome, introductions and housekeeping from Nichola Smalley (3 mins)
• Panel discussion chaired by Nichola Smalley with Nilanjana S Roy (60 mins)
• Comfort break (5 mins)
• Q&A with audience (20 mins)
• Summary and closing comments (2 mins)
• This event will be moderated Ambre Morvan – Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager and Contracts Advisor, SoA

The Line-up

Nichola Smalley (Chair)

Nichola Smalley is a translator of Swedish and Norwegian literature. Her translation of Andrzej Tichý’s novel Wretchedness won the 2021 Oxford-Weidenfeld Prize, and was longlisted for the 2021 International Booker Prize and shortlisted for the 2021 Bernard Shaw Prize. She has a PhD in the use of slang in contemporary Swedish and English literature, and was, until early 2022, Publicity Director at And Other Stories. She lives in London.

Nilanjana S Roy

Nilanjana S Roy is the author of three novels, including Black River, and is the editor of three anthologies, including Our Freedoms. Her column on books and the reading life has run in the Financial Times since 2016.  She lives in Delhi with her husband; they are the joint property of four demanding cats.

Website: https://nilanjanaroy.com/ | X: @nilanjanaroy | Instagram: @nilanjanasroy

What will this session cover?

2026 is the National Year of Reading. This session will look at different experiences of reading translations – bookselling, reviewing and reading for pleasure.  How can we share, write and celebrate our experience of reading translations?  What impact might this have on the recognition of the translators who make this possible?

Who is this session for?

This session is for anyone who enjoys reading and writing about translations.

About the Translators Association (TA)

The Translators Association (TA) provides a source of expert advice for individual literary translators and is also a collective voice representing the profession as a whole. Translators automatically become a member of the TA on joining the SoA.

The TA is run by a committee of 7 members and coordinated by Catherine Fuller and Ambre Morvan. Catherine and Ambre are also members of the SoA Contracts Advisory team

Send us your questions

If you would like to send questions in advance, email AMorvan@societyofauthors.org with ’talk about reading translations’ in the subject header. We will prioritise questions sent in advance and answer as many as we can from the audience on the day.

SoA Fundraising Bookshop

Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in our events programme. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund, giving authors support for travel, subsistence, childcare or access needs for events, residencies, and retreats.

Need to know

Accessibility

• Attendees will have the option to turn on the live transcript, to watch with subtitles
• If you require BSL interpretation for this event, please email events@societyofauthors.org

Before the event

• Once registered, you will be sent a confirmation email with the Zoom link
• If the confirmation email doesn’t arrive in your inbox, please check your junk/spam email folder
• Please add events@societyofauthors.org to your Safe Senders list so you receive our confirmation and reminder emails

During the event

• This online event will take place on Zoom Webinar; you will not be visible on screen but will be able to ask questions via the Q&A function or interact via the chat box
• This event will be recorded but you won’t be on screen
• Attendees have the option to turn on the live transcript
• This event is 90 minutes

After the event

• Hashtags for this event: #SoAatHome 
• You’ll be able to catch the recording on our Vimeo channel

Booking

Please either use the form titled ‘Register – no donation’ or the option of the different ticket options with a donation amount depending on how much you would like to donate towards the Society of Authors Access Fund.