Literary translator from French and Spanish, a former mentee of the National Centre for Writing’s Emerging Translator Mentorship Programme 2020-21 and winner of Third Prize in the 2021 John Dryden Translation Competition.
An avid linguist and lifelong bookworm, passionate about bringing the literatures of the French- and Spanish-speaking worlds to the Anglosphere. In parallel with my translation activities, I work as Prize Coordinator at the Stephen Spender Trust, and Editorial Assistant at the European Literature Network.
An avid linguist and lifelong bookworm, passionate about bringing the literatures of the French- and Spanish-speaking worlds to the Anglosphere. In parallel with my translation activities, I work as Prize Coordinator at the Stephen Spender Trust, and Editorial Assistant at the European Literature Network.
Translation experience and current projects
French and Spanish to English Translator - Freelance; currently based in Provence, France
(Jul. 2020 - present)
Freelance translator from French and Spanish, specialising in literary translation into English. I have worked on projects with a variety of English, French and Spanish-language publishers and literary organisations, ranging from book-length translations and extended translation samples, to readers reports and the translation of promotional materials.
My book translations to date include:
Excerpts of my work have also appeared in the journal of Comparative Critical Studies 19:1 (2022) and the National Centre for Writing's Emerging Literary Translators 2021 anthology.
My translation of Spanish author Ana Punset's Unicornia: Learning to Fly is forthcoming with Walker Books in June 2024, along with two titles for young readers in Seven Stories Press's "They Said No" series.
Alongside my literary translation activities, I offer translation, proofreading and editing services in the fields of gastronomy, marketing, tourism, culture and the arts, as well as academic translation and editing within the arts and humanities.
PREVIOUS IN-HOUSE EXPERIENCE
Linguist Project Manager - Lifeline Language Services, Preston, UK
(Sept. 2019 – June 2020)
In-house French and Spanish to English translation of a range of commercial texts (marketing and advertising material, blog articles, business communications, etc.), as well as proofreading and editing of translations carried out by freelance partners.
(Jul. 2020 - present)
Freelance translator from French and Spanish, specialising in literary translation into English. I have worked on projects with a variety of English, French and Spanish-language publishers and literary organisations, ranging from book-length translations and extended translation samples, to readers reports and the translation of promotional materials.
My book translations to date include:
- The Stranger in the Seine (Orion Books, July 2023) - French crime thriller translated from Guillaume Musso's L'inconnue de la Seine.
- Survivor (Strangers Press, 2022), a dystopian novella by Swiss-French author Julie Guinand published as part of the +SVIZRA chapbook series.
- 100 First Words for Toddlers (Rockwell Press 2021), a bilingual picture book helping young learners to expand their vocabulary in French.
- Caring in Times of Covid-19 (2020), an OXFAM-supported work by Spanish photojournalist Juan Zarza documenting the actions of Madrid collectives during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Excerpts of my work have also appeared in the journal of Comparative Critical Studies 19:1 (2022) and the National Centre for Writing's Emerging Literary Translators 2021 anthology.
My translation of Spanish author Ana Punset's Unicornia: Learning to Fly is forthcoming with Walker Books in June 2024, along with two titles for young readers in Seven Stories Press's "They Said No" series.
Alongside my literary translation activities, I offer translation, proofreading and editing services in the fields of gastronomy, marketing, tourism, culture and the arts, as well as academic translation and editing within the arts and humanities.
PREVIOUS IN-HOUSE EXPERIENCE
Linguist Project Manager - Lifeline Language Services, Preston, UK
(Sept. 2019 – June 2020)
In-house French and Spanish to English translation of a range of commercial texts (marketing and advertising material, blog articles, business communications, etc.), as well as proofreading and editing of translations carried out by freelance partners.
Literary translation prizes and development
John Dryden Translation Competition 2021, Third Prize
(September 2021)
Winner of Third Prize for an excerpt translated from the novel Requiem by the French author and Sorbonne academic Alpheratz, a work characterised amongst other things by its innovative use of a neologistic form of gender-inclusive French, and praised by Oulipo member Bernard Cerquiglini for its originality in conception and execution. The full excerpt was published in the spring 2022 edition of the Comparative Critical Studies journal (Volume 19, Issue 1). You can also read it here.
National Centre for Writing Emerging Translators Mentorship scheme 2020-21, Swiss French (mentored by Sarah Ardizzone)
(Oct 2020 – April 2021)
Six-month mentorship with the award-winning literary translator Sarah Ardizzone, centred on the Swiss-French novel Nues dans un verre d’eau (‘Nudes in a Glass of Water’) by Fanny Wobmann. An excerpt from my final translation was published in the Emerging Literary Translators 2021 anthology (National Centre for Writing, 2021), and featured as a live reading in the Emerging Literary Translators Showcase (April 2021, available on YouTube).
I also spoke about my experience of participating in the mentorship programme and my personal route into literary translation in a special edition of the NCW's 'The Writing Life' podcast called 'How to become a literary translator', recorded in conversation with Sarah Ardizzone and Jamie Lee Searle and released in July 2021.
(September 2021)
Winner of Third Prize for an excerpt translated from the novel Requiem by the French author and Sorbonne academic Alpheratz, a work characterised amongst other things by its innovative use of a neologistic form of gender-inclusive French, and praised by Oulipo member Bernard Cerquiglini for its originality in conception and execution. The full excerpt was published in the spring 2022 edition of the Comparative Critical Studies journal (Volume 19, Issue 1). You can also read it here.
National Centre for Writing Emerging Translators Mentorship scheme 2020-21, Swiss French (mentored by Sarah Ardizzone)
(Oct 2020 – April 2021)
Six-month mentorship with the award-winning literary translator Sarah Ardizzone, centred on the Swiss-French novel Nues dans un verre d’eau (‘Nudes in a Glass of Water’) by Fanny Wobmann. An excerpt from my final translation was published in the Emerging Literary Translators 2021 anthology (National Centre for Writing, 2021), and featured as a live reading in the Emerging Literary Translators Showcase (April 2021, available on YouTube).
I also spoke about my experience of participating in the mentorship programme and my personal route into literary translation in a special edition of the NCW's 'The Writing Life' podcast called 'How to become a literary translator', recorded in conversation with Sarah Ardizzone and Jamie Lee Searle and released in July 2021.
Wider literary activities and experience
Stephen Spender Trust (SST) - Prize Coordinator
(June 2021 – present)
Since June 2021, I have been working across SST’s Poetry in Translation Prize and Creative Translation in the Classroom programmes to support literary translation and multilingualism amongst young people and adults in the UK. I have since taken on the coordination of the Stephen Spender Prize in the role of Prize Coordinator, as part of the SST core team alongside Director Charlotte Ryland and Education Coordinator Stacie Allan.
European Literature Network (ELNet) - Editorial Assistant and Deputy Reviews Editor
(Nov 2020 – present)
Part of the team led by Rosie Goldsmith involved in organising European Literature Network (ELNet) events and writing/editing content for publication in the biannual The Riveter print magazine and on the ELNet website.
Since June 2021, I have been responsible for editing the monthly online Riveting Reviews alongside Reviews Editor West Camel. I also contribute regular reviews on translated titles, covering a range of literary genres. I have also collaborated as a researcher on various projects between ELNet and partner organisations; the most recent of these was the Europe Readr podcast in partnership with EUNIC London, which aired from September to December 2021.
(June 2021 – present)
Since June 2021, I have been working across SST’s Poetry in Translation Prize and Creative Translation in the Classroom programmes to support literary translation and multilingualism amongst young people and adults in the UK. I have since taken on the coordination of the Stephen Spender Prize in the role of Prize Coordinator, as part of the SST core team alongside Director Charlotte Ryland and Education Coordinator Stacie Allan.
European Literature Network (ELNet) - Editorial Assistant and Deputy Reviews Editor
(Nov 2020 – present)
Part of the team led by Rosie Goldsmith involved in organising European Literature Network (ELNet) events and writing/editing content for publication in the biannual The Riveter print magazine and on the ELNet website.
Since June 2021, I have been responsible for editing the monthly online Riveting Reviews alongside Reviews Editor West Camel. I also contribute regular reviews on translated titles, covering a range of literary genres. I have also collaborated as a researcher on various projects between ELNet and partner organisations; the most recent of these was the Europe Readr podcast in partnership with EUNIC London, which aired from September to December 2021.
Qualifications
BA Modern and Medieval Languages (French and Spanish) - St Catharine’s College, University of Cambridge (First-Class Honours)
(Oct. 2012 - June 2016)
With course modules in French and Spanish literature from the medieval through to the contemporary period, as well as literary translation of classic and contemporary authors from the Francophone and Spanish-speaking world. Four-year course, including a third year spent living and working in Paris and Salamanca.
Academic awards: Henry Chaytor College Scholarship (2013, 2014 and 2016); Hutcherson Prize for Outstanding Tripos Performance (2014); Sean Mulherin Prize in Modern & Medieval Languages (2014 and 2016).
MA Translation and Interpreting Studies - University of Manchester (Distinction)
(Sept. 2018 - Sept. 2019)
Including a 15,000-word practical dissertation centred on the translation of extracts from Requiem, a novel by the French author and linguist Alpheratz written in gender-inclusive French.
Academic awards: Best Scholar Prize for highest dissertation mark and best overall performance in MA programme.
(Oct. 2012 - June 2016)
With course modules in French and Spanish literature from the medieval through to the contemporary period, as well as literary translation of classic and contemporary authors from the Francophone and Spanish-speaking world. Four-year course, including a third year spent living and working in Paris and Salamanca.
Academic awards: Henry Chaytor College Scholarship (2013, 2014 and 2016); Hutcherson Prize for Outstanding Tripos Performance (2014); Sean Mulherin Prize in Modern & Medieval Languages (2014 and 2016).
MA Translation and Interpreting Studies - University of Manchester (Distinction)
(Sept. 2018 - Sept. 2019)
Including a 15,000-word practical dissertation centred on the translation of extracts from Requiem, a novel by the French author and linguist Alpheratz written in gender-inclusive French.
Academic awards: Best Scholar Prize for highest dissertation mark and best overall performance in MA programme.
Professional memberships
- Qualified Member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (MITI)
- Full Member of the Translators Association (TA) of the Society of Authors (SoA)
- Member of the Société française des traducteurs (SFT)
- Member of ATLAS (Association pour la promotion de la traduction littéraire)
- Member of the Emerging Translators Network (ETN)
- Full Member of the North West Translators’ Network (NWTN)
