The John Florio Prize is a biennial award for translations into English of full length Italian works of literary merit and general interest. The winner is awarded £3,000 and a runner-up is awarded £1,000.
Established in 1963 and named for the writer-translator John Florio, who lived in London 1555-1625, the prize is generously sponsored by the Italian Cultural Institute and the Society of Authors.
The John Florio Prize is currently closed for submissions and will reopen in 2027. You can find the eligibility criteria for this Prize below.
The 2024 John Florio Prize winner
Jenny McPhee for a translation of Lies and Sorcery by Elsa Morante (New York Review Books)
Photography © Natalie Thorpe
‘This translation of Elsa Morante’s first novel Menzogna e Sortilegio is an extraordinary achievement, not only because of the daunting amount of words that constitute the book, but mostly because of the unpredictable and complex ways in which Morante uses words to represent an insidious reality permeated with deception and self-deception. This often requires the translator to unravel phrases and sentences and to write them again for her audience, something that Jenny McPhee is doing generously and indefatigably throughout the book. Time and again, she travels to the heart of the text and emerges from its depths holding the translation as a gift for the contemporary readers.’
Sandra Silipo, 2024 John Florio Prize judge
The 2024 John Florio Prize runner-up
Brian Robert Moore for a translation of A Silence Shared by Lalla Romano (Pushkin Press)
Photography © Natalie Thorpe
‘A Silence Shared phenomenally toed the line between gentle language, minute human interactions and indulgent visuals that left enough room for the reader to both envision and imagine what was. A masterclass in delivering characters that stay with the reader, whilst obscuring them just enough to keep you intrigued long after the book is done. This was a worthy advocate for either top spot.’
Maame Blue, 2024 John Florio Prize judge
The 2024 John Florio Prize shortlist
Leah Janeczko for a translation of Lost On Me by Veronica Raimo (Virago)
John Cullen and Gregory Conti for a translation of The Colour Line by Igiaba Scego (HopeRoad Publishing)
‘The range of outstanding translations from excellent original works – novels, poetry and theatre – has made the process of selection challenging, even painful, and some works of undoubted merit were excluded from our eventual shortlist of four novels. Even the longlist left out works of evident quality.’
Jamie McKendrick, 2024 John Florio Prize judge
If you are interested in any of the books listed here please visit Bookshop.org.
