Exploring the Translator's Craft with Jamie Richards

The Bookshop Podcast

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Embark on a cultural odyssey with Jamie Richards, a consummate artist of literary translation. Our exchange unveils Jamie's accidental yet fateful plunge into the realm of translation, alongside her storied career, marked by venerated honors and a discerning taste for the literary unexplored. The episode unwraps the nuanced art of translation through Jamie's latest endeavor, Marosia Castaldi's The Hunger of Women, and her anecdotes about meeting Castaldi in the scenic Navigli district of Milan, shining light on the profound relationship between an author and their translator.
Step into a spirited dialogue that traverses the mosaic of literary translation, where the spirit of cities like Naples and Milan breathe life into the narratives they house. The conversation takes a turn towards the burgeoning influence of AI, juxtaposing its potential utility with the irreplaceable touch of human finesse. We address the surge in the allure of translated literature, and how this renaissance is sculpting the global literary stage. Join us in celebrating the transformation in the publishing world, with a salute to diversity, independent bookshops, and small presses—the pillars of this richly transforming milieu. Jamie also offers a peek into the profound works that stir a translator's spirit, rounding off a session that applauds the craft of translation and the boundless beauty of language and story that unites us across borders.
Jamie Richards

The Hunger of Women, Marosia Castaldi

Explosion in a Cathedral, Alejo Carpentier

The House on Via Gemito, Domenico Starnone

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Mandy Jackson-Beverly
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Chapters

1. Exploring the Translator's Craft with Jamie Richards (00:00:00)

2. Translation and Meeting an Italian Author (00:00:10)

3. AI's Impact on Literary Translation and Popularity (00:13:23)

4. Translation and Changing Publishing Landscape (00:18:21)