Megan McDowell is the leading English-language translator of fiction from Latin America. McDowell’s work spans many major authors (including Samanta Schweblin, Mariana Enriquez, Alejandro Zambra, and Lina Meruane) known for the use of sensory, bodily, personal, uncanny, and political elements. Her translations have won the National Book Award for Translated Literature, the English PEN award, the Premio Valle-Inclán, and two O. Henry Prizes, and have been nominated for the International Booker Prize (four times) and the Kirkus Prize. This seminar will delve into Megan’s experiences with translation, how the field is developing, the slow but growing recognition of the translator’s impact on the world’s literary landscape, as well as her take on current trends in Latin American fiction. McDowell has stated that “the future is feminine —it’s not just a matter of the gender of the person writing but rather of concerns and subjectivities that I think we all, in any culture, have to find a way to engage with.” This particular new sensibility will be discussed, particularly in relation to Schweblin’s and Enriquez’s acclaimed work. Megan McDowell will be in conversation with Agnethe Bennedsgaard, Ph.D. student. The event is co-organized by the Departments of Spanish, English, French and Comparative Literature, with financial support from Litteraturstudier Research Programme and the English Department.

For further information contact the organizers:

Agnethe Brounbjerg Bennedsgaard: agb@cc.au.dk

Tabish Khair: engtk@cc.au.dk

Steen Bille: romsbj@cc.au.dkDiana

González Martin: digoma@cc.au.dk