The Society of Authors is a UK based trade union for all types of writers, illustrators and literary translators, at all stages of their careers. They administer grants and prizes, with over £120,000 in awards for fiction, non-fiction, poetry, translation and drama.
The translation prizes “recognize outstanding translations from works in Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and Swedish.” Some prizes are awarded bi-annually and the Japanese one is to commence in 2024.
Here are the recently announced winners (announced on 8 February 2023), many works, if eligible, possibly appearing in the soon (14 March 2023) to be announced Booker International Prize.
Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize (Arabic).
The winner is awarded £3,000 and a runner-up is awarded £1,000.
Winner: Humphrey Davies for a translation of ‘The Men Who Swallowed The Sun’ by Hamdi Abu Golayyel (Hoopoe)
Runner Up: Robin Moger for a translation of ‘Slipping’ by Mohamed Kheir (Two Lines Press)
Dutch – Vondel Prize
“The Vondel Prize is a triennial award of €5000 for translation into English of full length Dutch language works of literary merit and general interest.”
Winner: David Doherty for a translation of ‘Summer Brother’ by Jaap Robben, (World Editions)
Runner up: David McKay for a translation of ‘Adrift in the Middle Kingdom’ by J. Slauerhoff (Handheld Press)
Italian – John Florio Prize
“The John Florio Prize is a biennial award for translations into English of full length Italian works of literary merit and general interest. The winner is awarded £3,000 and a runner-up is awarded £1,000.”
Winner: Nicholas Benson and Elena Coda for a translation of ‘My Karst and My City’ by Scipio Slataper (University of Toronto Press)
Runners up: J Ockenden for a translation of ‘Snow, Dog, Foot’ by Claudio Morandini (Peirene Press), and Tim Parks for translations of ‘The House on The Hill’ and ‘The Moon and the Bonfires’ by Cesare Pavese (Penguin Press)
German – Schlegel-Tieck Prize
‘The Schlegel-Tieck Prize is an annual award for translations into English of full length German works of literary merit and general interest. The winner is awarded £3,000 and a runner-up is awarded £1,000.’
Winner: Damion Searls for a translation of ‘Where You Come From’ by Saša Stanišić (Jonathan Cape, Penguin Random House UK)
Runner Up: Steph Morris for a translation of ‘It All Tastes of Farewell: Diaries, 1964-1970’, by Brigitte Reimann (Seagull Books)
French – Scott Moncrieff Prize
“The Scott Moncrieff Prize is an annual award for translations into English of full length French works of literary merit and general interest. The winner is awarded £3,000 and a runner-up is awarded £1,000.”
Winner: Sarah Ardizzone for a translation of ‘Men Don’t Cry’ by Faïza Guène (Cavassa Republic Press)
Runner Up: Lara Vergnaud for a translation ‘The Ardent Swarm’ by Yamen Manai (Amazon Crossing)
Hebrew – TLS-Risa Domb/Porjes Prize
“The TLS-Risa Domb/Porjes Prize of £2,000 has been awarded triennially since 1998 and recognises the English translation of a full-length Hebrew book, fiction or non-fiction, of general interest and literary merit.”
Winner: Linda Yechiel for a translation of ‘House on Endless Waters’ by Emuna Elon (Allen & Unwin, Atlantic Books)
Spanish – Premio Valle Inclán
“The Premio Valle Inclán is an annual prize for translations into English of full length Spanish language works of literary merit and general interest. The prize was established in 1997. The winner is awarded £3,000 and a runner-up is awarded £1,000.”
Winner: Annie McDermott for a translation of ‘Wars of the Interior’ by Joseph Zárate (Granta)
Runner Up: Julia Sanches for a translation of ‘Slash and Burn’ by Claudia Hernández (And Other Stories)
TA First Translation Prize
“The TA First Translation Prize is an annual prize for a debut literary translation into English published in the UK and Ireland. The winner is awarded £3,000 and a runner-up is awarded £1,000. The Prize is shared between the translator and their editor.”
Winner: Marta Dziurosz and editors Zeljka Marosevic and Sophie Missing for a translation of ‘The Things I Didn’t Throw Out’ by Marcin Wicha (Daunt Books Publishing) Translated from Polish.
Runners Up: Jo Heinrich and editor Gesche Ipsen for a translation of ‘Marzahn, Mon Amour’ by Katja Oskamp (Peirene Press) Translated from German.
Abigail Wender and editor Katy Derbyshire for a translation of ‘The Bureau of Past Management’ by Iris Hanika (V&Q Books) Translated from German.
Messenger's Booker (and more) 