Here at Literary Friction, we believe translation is both an art and a superpower; it gives us access to voices and stories from all over the world, and it's a rolling theme we keep coming back to on the show. What makes a good translation? Are translators finally starting to get the recognition they deserve? Why are there still so few translated titles published in English? This month, helping us answer these questions and more is Ann Goldstein, translator, editor and former head of the copy department at The New Yorker, whose work translating Italian author Elena Ferrante's bestselling novels has had a big impact on the popularity of translated literature in the English-speaking world. Ann joined us to talk about her career and her translation of Ferrante's latest novel, The Lying Life of Adults. We hope you enjoy it.

Recommended literature in translation:

Octavia: A Heart So White by Javier Marías, translated by Margaret Jull Costa https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/183/183889/a-heart-so-white/9780141199955.html

Carrie: The Wall by Marlen Haushofer, translated by Shaun Whiteside https://www.quartetbooks.co.uk/shop/the-wall/

General Recommendations:

Octavia: A Musical Offering by Luis Sagasti, translated by Fionn Petch https://charcopress.com/bookstore/musical-offering

Ann: The Bay of Noon by Shirley Hazzard https://www.virago.co.uk/titles/shirley-hazzard/the-bay-of-noon/9781860494543/

Carrie: Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/maggie-ofarrell/hamnet/9781472223838/

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