Words Without Borders: The Commerce of World Literature

In conversation with translators: Maureen Freely, Tess Lewis, Allison Markin Powell and Samantha Schnee, moderated by Prof. Jonathan Smolin.

Why do some authors and books become known around the world, while others of equal merit languish in relative obscurity? This conversation will explore the role national cultural foundations play in exporting a country’s cultural production and the implications this has for less wealthy nations that don’t have such organizations. In many such instances, the responsibility falls to translators into English, placing them in the role of cultural gatekeepers and mediators. How do national and international prizes affect the literary eco-system? What is the importance of literature as a means of cultural exchange and soft diplomacy? And how will AI and LLMs impact this cultural dialogue?

In conversation with renowned translators:

Maureen Freely, American novelist, professor, and translator of Turkish to English and translator from Turkish of Orhan Pamuk (Nobel 2006).

Tess Lewis, American writer, essayist and literary translator from French and German and translator from French and German of Peter Handke (Nobel 2019).

Allison Markin Powell (D’95), literary translator, editor, and publishing consultant, translator from Japanese and winner of the 2020 PEN America Translation Prize.

Samantha Schnee (D’92), translator from Spanish and founding editor of WordsWithoutBorders.org.

Free and open to the public.

This event will be recorded and livestreamed, register for the webinar here.

More information here.