Literary translation is a creative act
Literary translation cannot be measured by word count or evaluated with a terminology checklist. What matters is whether the translated text reads as well as the original -- whether the rhythm, register, voice, and emotional weight survive the move between languages. This requires translators who are also writers, not professionals who happen to be bilingual.
Our literary and editorial translators are published authors, working journalists, and professional editors with track records in both the source and target languages. We do not assign literary projects by availability. We assign them by fit.
Literary and editorial content we handle
Our literary and editorial translation covers:
- Literary fiction, poetry collections, and short story anthologies
- Non-fiction books: essays, memoir, cultural journalism, and popular science
- Magazine features, opinion journalism, and long-form reportage
- Marketing copy, advertising campaigns, and brand narratives
- Museum and exhibition content, catalogue essays, and cultural documentation
- Subtitles and transcriptions for documentary and cultural film
The review process for literary work
Literary translation goes through a different review process than technical or legal content. After the primary translator delivers the first draft, it is reviewed by a second literary professional -- a published author or experienced editor -- who reads it as a reader rather than as a checker. Corrections are discussed between translator and reviewer before the final text is delivered. This adds time but produces a result that actually reads well.