Translator's Choice 2020 1
15 Translator’s choice Why does this book deserve
to be translated? “No one meets my eyes. It’s as if the buggy is both a shield and a hurdle for people to see me.” When I first read Sara Villius’ short novel Madonna I was pregnant and scared that I would soon lose myself as I transformed into ‘Mother’. Through her main character Villius succeeded in articulating my anxiety around motherhood and all that follows in its wake: to no longer be seen as an individual with hopes and dreams of my own. Villius’ protagonist, a mother of three, struggles to write and to love. Over and over she tries to regain control of her life as she experiences the worst kind of loneliness – being lonely in a room full of people. On the outside she appears to have everything and so she should be happy, but there is something missing, something more that she wants. Although most women won’t act the way Villius’ protagonist does, I do believe that many at least dream of being a little more like the sinful Madonna in Edvard Munch’s painting, which graces the cover of the book. It is wistful and desolate writing, yet (unfortunately) so close to real life. “Villius succeeded in articulating my anxiety around motherhood” Agata Teperek Agata Teperek translates into Polish and lives in Warsaw, Poland. Two other favourites amongst books she has previously translated are: Gertrud Hellbrand Satyricon, novel, 2018 Satyricon, Marginesy, 2020 Swedish publisher: Albert Bonniers Förlag Rights: Bonnier Rights Andrea Lundgren Nordisk fauna, short stories, 2018 Fauna Północy, Pauza, 2020, (collaborative translation) Swedish publisher: Natur och Kultur Rights: Partners in Stories