The Philosophy of Translation Book Launch

Saturday, October 29, 2024
Talks Stage, 11:45am

Join us for a first look at The Philosophy of Translation by award-winning translator and author Damion Searls. With decades of experience translating over sixty books from multiple languages, Searls offers a fresh look at the practice in his new book; drawing on a wealth of specific examples, he connects the granular work of literary translation—navigating rhythm, cultural nuances, and more—with larger questions about reading and perception. This talk will appeal to anyone fascinated by the beauty and complexity of language, and to everyone who is grateful for the essential work that translators do.

About the Author

Damion Searls is a prominent translator of literature from German, Norwegian, French, and Dutch into English. His over sixty translated books include the works of Norway’s Jon Fosse, who won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature, as well as classic works by Nietzsche, Rilke, Proust, Hesse, and Thomas Mann; literary treasures by writers such as Elfriede Jelinek, Patrick Modiano and Christa Wolf; and lesser-known authors such Victoria Kielland, Saša Stanišić, and Uwe Johnson. His newest translations are Overstaying, a debut novel by Swiss playwright and visual artist Ariane Koch, and a bold new translation of Wittgenstein’s famed Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. His own writing includes works of fiction, poetry, and the acclaimed 2017 nonfiction title The Inkblots: Hermann Rorschach, His Iconic Test, and The Power of Seeing. Visit him at damionsearls.com.