The Polish Book Institute in Krakow,
Polish Cultural Institute in London,
Polish Cultural Institute in New York,
and W.A.B. Publishers in Warsaw
proudly announce
ANTONIA LLOYD-JONES wins 2009 FOUND IN TRANSLATION Award
Award Ceremony: European Literature Night, British Library, London, U.K.
Found in Translation is an annual prize given for the best translation of Polish literature into English. This year's award will go to Antonia Lloyd-Jones, for her translation of Pawel Huelle's book The Last Supper(Serpent's Tail, London, 2008), a novel that raises fundamental questions about the nature of belief in modern society. Antonia Lloyd-Jones will receive the prize from the hands of Pawel Huelle himself during the European Literature Night in the British Library on May 13. The Last Supper is set in Gdansk and centers on a single day in the near future, when twelve men have been invited by their mutual friend, an artist, to model at a photographic session for a modern version of The Last Supper. The histories of the twelve men are revealed through their thoughts on that day: their wayward behavior is a reflection of the role of the Church in Polish society today. The reunion is disturbed as a wave of terrorist bombs paralyzes the city, creating upheaval and a sense of distress. The awarded book has been praised by literary critics both for Huelle's writing and Lloyd-Jones' translation. The Independent wrote: "An intelligent, intriguing and atmospheric novel worthy of its inspiration. It is admirably served by Antonia Lloyd-Jones' nuanced and readable translation." Antonia Lloyd-Jones is one of the finest translators of Polish literature into English. Born in 1962, she read Russian and Ancient Greek at Oxford. Her published translations from Polish include novels by Pawel Huelle and Olga Tokarczuk, short stories by Jaroslaw Iwaszkiewicz, and non-fiction, most recently by Ryszard Kapuscinski and Wojciech Tochman. Her translation of a selection of poems by Tadeusz Dabrowski is forthcoming with Zephyr Press. European Literature Night in London is one of many events that will take place simultaneously across European capitals on May 13 to celebrate European literature. In London, emerging and established writers from seven countries: Petra Hulova (the Czech Republic), Simonetta Agnello Hornby (Italy), Gilles Petel (France), Tibor Fischer (UK/Hungary), Pawel Huelle (Poland), and Mircea Cartarescu (Romania), will read from their books and engage in conversation. Rosie Goldsmith, the acclaimed journalist and BBC reporter, will chair the London event. The Found in Translation Award, established in 2007 by the Polish Book Institute in Krakow, the Polish Cultural Institute in London, the Polish Cultural Institute in New York, and the W.A.B. Publishers in Warsaw, is given annually for the best translation of a work of Polish literature into English that was published as a book in the preceding year. The first Found in Translation Award, in 2008, was given to Bill Johnston for his translation of New Poems by Tadeusz Rozewicz (Archipelago Books, New York, 2007). The Award consists of a three-month residency in Krakow, with lodging, a monthly stipend of 2,000 PLN (ca $600), roundtrip airfare to Krakow, and a financial award of 10,000 PLN (ca $3,000). The laureate is announced during the Award ceremony, which is organized each year in the laureate's country of origin. Candidates for the Award can be nominated by private persons as well as institutions in Poland and abroad. Nominations are to be sent with the subject-heading FOUND IN TRANSLATION to: The Polish Book Institute, 31-011 Krakow, ul. Szczepanska 1, Poland, e-mail: biuro@instytutksiazki.pl More information on the Award
