Translating literature: “The variety of texts you hold in your hands is fascinating”

On the road in France, Switzerland and Germany: Justine Coquel is one of the ten participants in the ‘Goldschmidt+’ programme for young literary translators. What makes the programme special? In contrast to the classic Goldschmidt programme, ‘Goldschmidt+’ is aimed exclusively at translators who have already taken part in the Goldschmidt programme. The aim of the new format is to further deepen their skills, expand their network and make their work more visible.  

We spoke to Justine Coquel after her return from the Journée Littéraire de Soleure/Solothurner Literaturtage (Switzerland, 8-12 May 2024), where she met the other participants for the first time as part of the festival and a specialist seminar.

Frankfurter Buchmesse: It's been 10 years since you took part in the Goldschmidt programme. With the new ‘Goldschmidt+’ programme, we are trying out a new format. What motivated you to take part this time too?

Justine Coquel: I decided to take part in Goldschmidt+ because I really wanted to meet other participants and see what had happened to them since the first Goldschmidt programme. I also think exchange is very important in our profession. Getting to grips with other ways of working is essential in order to make progress. And it was also an opportunity to actively participate in three major literary events, in France, Switzerland and Germany - what a stroke of luck!

You have just completed the first part of the programme in Switzerland. What were the topics that you discussed most intensively in the group?

This first part of the programme in Solothurn was an opportunity to consolidate the group. Some of us already knew each other, others didn't, so there were lots of conversations about our respective careers. We also benefited from the framework of the Literature Days to take part in workshops and meetings between writers and translators. We had the opportunity to see some Goldschmidt alumni on stage, to support them and to discuss such fascinating and important issues as translating inclusive language, poems and the Quebec dialect, among others.

What project are you currently working on and what is a particularly great pleasure - and what is a particularly great challenge?

I've just handed in the translation of Elena Fischer's first novel, Paradise Garden, which will be published by Éditions Gallmeister. This is my first collaboration with this publishing house, which I particularly like and am very proud to be associated with them. And I'm rereading the proofs of a text to be published by a new publishing house in Lyon, a text by Christine Wolter originally published in 1982, whose emphasis on sailing gave me a hard time. But I would say that this is precisely what fascinates me about our profession - the great diversity of texts we have in our hands.

Is there someone whose translation work you particularly admire?

Without hesitation, Olivier Mannoni. I have immense respect for the passion he has for our profession and the fervour with which he defends it. As well as translating nearly 200 titles, he does a great deal to pass on best practice and willingly shares his colossal knowledge of the publishing world, particularly with the graduating classes of the École de Traduction Littéraire, which he co-founded with the CNL, and of which I was a member in 2021.

About Justine Coquel

After completing a Master's degree in literary translation in 2011, Justine Coquel published her first translation from German with Jacqueline Chambon. 

In 2014, she took part in the Goldschmidt programme, and in 2021 she attended the École de Traduction Littéraire (ETL). She translates fiction, thrillers, comics and manga for various publishers. She lives in Strasbourg, where reading, translating and walking her dog make up her daily routine. 

https://www.jc-traduction.fr/(opens in a new window)   

About the Goldschmidt Programme 

Under the patronage of translator Georges-Arthur Goldschmidt, the funding programme named after him enables five young German-speaking and five young French-speaking translators under the age of 30 to get to know publishing houses in France, Germany and Switzerland and to work on their own projects under the guidance of experienced translators. 

The programme is organised by Frankfurter Buchmesse together with the Franco-German Youth Office, the Bureau International de l'Édition Française and Pro Helvetia. The aim of the programme is to promote literary exchange between German- and French-speaking countries. 

https://www.buchmesse.de/en/fellowship-and-grant-programmes/goldschmidt-programme