Award-winning translator Jeremy Tiang will participate in The London Book Fair (12 – 14 March) this year as Inaugural Literary Translator of the Fair.

A prolific translator, playwright, novelist, and essay-writer from Singapore, Jeremy Tiang has translated a great number of books and plays from Chinese. His work has been described as “whetting the appetite for the translator’s own writing” (Josh Stenberg, World Literature Today). He is the recipient of a PEN/Heim Grant, an NEA Literary Translation Fellowship, and a People’s Literature Prize Mao-Tai Cup for Translation. His debut novel, State of Emergency (2017), earned him the Singapore Literature Prize for English fiction in 2018.

Tiang will be attending LBF on Thursday 14 March, where he will be discussing his work and career in conversation with Chris Gribble, Chief Executive at the National Centre for Writing.

Funded by Arts Council England, The Literary Translation Centre will be holding talks and events throughout the duration of the Fair, with organisations taking part including Amazon Crossing, The British Council, English PEN, Literature Across Frontiers, Translators Association, and The National Centre for Writing.

Jeremy Tiang commented:

Literary translation brings stories across borders and broadens our understanding of the world, which is more important than ever in a time of increased division. It’s wonderful to see translation being highlighted in this way, and I’m honoured to fly the flag for translators everywhere.

Jacks Thomas, Director at The London Book Fair, said:

We are thrilled to have Jeremy Tiang as our first ever Literary Translator this year. As well as being an award-winning translator, Jeremy is an accomplished author and playwright. LBF has always championed translation and it has never been more important to celebrate the work of translators, and their vital role in fostering cross-culture dialogue and bridging gaps across worlds.

The Literary Translation Centre Line-Up Includes:
• Translating Indonesia – with British Council’s Literature Programme Manager Rebecca Hart (Tuesday 12 March, 10am)
• World KidLit: Diversity in Publishing Children’s Books – with the director of Literature Across Frontiers (LAF) Alexandra Buchler (Tuesday 12 March, 11.30am)
• Challenging the Status Quo: Emerging Scottish Publishers as Platforms for Diverse Voices – featuring Alan Bett, Literature Officer at Creative Scotland (Tuesday 12 March, 1:30pm)
• The Impact of Prizes on Translations and Translators – with Ruth Martin, Co-Chair of the Translators Association (Wednesday 13 March, 10am)
• A Different Window onto the World: Indigenous Language Literature, Identity and Translation in Scotland, Wales and Europe – featuring Literature Wales (Wednesday 13 March, 11:30am)
• What Can a Mentorship Do For You? – with Chris Gribble and Kate Griffin from the National Centre for Writing (Wednesday 13 March, 1pm)
• The Maltese Literary Scene: Exporting an Emerging Literature Despite Translation Challenges – with Antonella and Simona Cassano (Wednesday 13 March, 3:30pm)
• Freedom of Movement & Artistic Expression: Writers Abroad – featuring English PEN’s Theadora Danek (Thursday 14 March, 10am)
• Women in Literature & Translation: Realities & Stereotypes – with the Boris Yeltsin Foundation (Thursday 14 March, 11:30am)
• In conversation: Jeremy Tiang, Literary Translator of the Fair and Chris Gribble – (Thursday 14 March, 2:30pm).

To access our 2019 LTC seminar programme, make sure to purchase a Visitor ticket to The London Book Fair here.