Horn-tooting, French food and feather fans: translation of KIKI launched in London

VALENTINE'S NIGHT saw the launch of the English-language translation of Kiki de Montparnasse by London publisher Self Made Hero, named as the Observer's Graphic Novel of the Month. [Horn-tooting disclaimer: reader, I translated it, and by damn, it was fun.]

Forever pushing the envelope when it comes to launches (last year's party for Cash: I see a darkness by Reinhard Kleist translated by Michael Waaler was held at the Institute for Contemporary Arts, sponsored by Chivas Regal), the Kiki Valentine's night dinner took the... cheesecake. Celebrated at Hardy's Brasserie in London's Marylebone, the atmosphere was distinctly French and enormous fun, thanks to the stripy-shirted Francophone staff and French-themed menu. Catel & Bocquet, the prize-winning BD duo made up of artist Catherine Muller and José-Louis Bocquet, were on hand to sketch and sign, respectively, and proved wildly popular with the KIKI enthusiasts cum diners in the packed-out restaurant.

In a personal first for this lifelong book launch attendee, and in true Kiki style, there was a burlesque artist! The divine Marianne Cheesecake was on hand for flirty, feather-covered fabulousness. I think it's safe to say that this improved Valentine's for many a gentleman BD fan, and indeed, that Kiki herself would have approved.

Dorothy Parker Factfile

So, if you haven't figured it out by now, yours truly has a longstanding affiinity for all things Dorothy Parker. For the reason behind the name, trawl the Parkbench website for RHJ writing small and purple.

Everyone has their special subject for Mastermind, and mine is Dorothy Parker –– or so I thought. I now hang my head in SHAME, and know that I am not the true blue Parkerite I once thought.*

I now can't remember how I came upon this link yesterday, but it stopped me in my tracks. Rarely do I learn something entirely new about Mrs Parker, but keeping in mind that I rarely get to the end of a biography that I'm reading for pleasure (sure, we know how it ends), I suppose this one passed me by.

From Bal'more's own City Paper, sniffs the errant Washingtonian, I bring you this sad tale with a happy ending.

No, go read it.

In the category of 'I didn't think there were any more reasons to admire the work of the NAACP', this is surely top of the list.



*That said, I was once mighty impressed with myself for catching a misattributed Parkerism in the pages of the latest hot book by one of this country's leading media lights. *pushes glasses up nose and snorts* Many thanks to Kevin Fitzpatrick of the Dorothy Parker Society for his back-up on that one.

OYEZ! OYEZ! Last call for entries in Harvill Secker's Young Translators' Prize

This just in from Harvill Secker's publicity department:

LAST CALL FOR ENTRIES!

Only a few weeks left to enter HARVILL SECKER’s

prestigious new prize for young translators

The Harvill Secker Young Translators’ Prize has already received lots of entries from budding translators - we are sending out last call for entrants to make sure no one misses out. The deadline for entries is 31st July 2010.

The annual Young Translators’ Prize will be presented to a translator at the start of their career and will focus on a different language each year.

Harvill Secker, part of The Random House Group, launched the prize on April 19th= in conjunction with Waterstone’s, to celebrate 100 years of publishing quality translation. In 2010 – the inaugural year – the chosen language is Spanish and entrants will be asked to translate ‘El hachazo’, a short story by the Argentine writer Matías Néspolo.

The short story and details on how to enter can be found at

www.harvillseckeryoungtranslatorsprize.com. The prize is open to anyone between the ages of 16 and 34, with no restriction on country of residence.

The winner’s name will be announced at the FreeWord Centre during aspecial evening event on 30 September 2010. The winning translator will receive £1000, a selection of Harvill Secker titles and Waterstone’s books.
One of the judges, Margaret Jull Costa (translator), commented ‘There are very few prizes open to the young, unpublished translator, who is either trying to get a toehold in the world of literary translation or who simply loves translating. All praise to Harvill Secker, then, for instigating this Young Translators’ Prize.’

The other judges are Nicholas Shakespeare (author) and Briony Everroad (editor). Prize founder, Briony Everroad comments, ‘I think translation is terribly important, and excellence in the field can often pass unnoticed. The aim of this prize is to encourage a new generation of talent, and I hope that it will provide a much-needed opportunity for young translators to gain wider recognition for their work.’

For more information please contact:

Sue Amaradivakara, Harvill Secker publicity

email: samaradivakara@randomhouse.co.uk