University of East Anglia

Alumnus, School of Literature and Creative Writing

About

In 2009-10 I was funded through the AHRC PPM scheme for an MA in Literary Translation at the University of East Anglia, which I achieved with distinction. During the MA year I worked on translating a variety of French and Italian literature into English, including children's literature and poetry, with a particular focus on the relationship between visual and verbal images. My dissertation was on singable opera translation, using the specific example of Handel's opera Imeneo.

While on the MA course, I was also co-editor of the translation studies journal Norwich Papers, vol. 18, entitled "Written Out: Translating Exclusion".  I also took part in the French workshop of the BCLT summer school 2010, during which I collaborated on a partial translation of Alain Farah's Matamore No. 29 with the author himself, and literary translator Adriana Hunter.

I am particularly interested in translating both prose and verse written before 1400, as well as 20th-21st century literature, in particular song, poetry, autobiographical fiction and children's literature. In the past years I have also translated papers for a number of French and Italian academics in the field of classics, and worked as a freelance translator for AudioVisit, a specialist in audio-guides for museums and galleries. My first full length academic book translation was published in January 2012 by Oklahoma University Press.

Prior to graduate studies, I read French and Italian at Selwyn College, Cambridge. My main focus was medieval French and Occitan literature (until 1400). In my final dissertation I engaged with two medieval French texts, looking at their portrayal of Jewish identity in relation to contemporary gender theory. I also produced a translation of an Anglo-Norman arthurian tale into English, with commentary.

In 2006-7 I taught English in Lyon, France, and in 2008-9 I worked in Geneva for an international ecumenical organization, as their youth programmes coordinator and in their conference preparation office. For a couple of years I was involved in editing and proofreading a publication of the Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe, entitled Fundamental Issues.

I have recently developed my career as a classical music agent, working for a number of opera singers. I now live in Prague, where I continue to translate, teach, proofread and edit on a freelance basis. I also enjoy singing, rowing and mountain sports.