Naomi Mottram Translation

I have to admit, it has always been a small ambition of mine to be invited to talk about my work to an audience, especially regarding literary translation. So I was thrilled to have the opportunity to be a guest on Settee Seminars, a podcast produced by Ilkley Literature Festival and Word Up North.

Sarah Hudspith from the University of Leeds hosted, expertly guiding us through a fascinating conversation about my translation of Mitrofanushka Durasov by Sofia Sinitskaia.

I do find that talking over a piece of literature, especially one you are or have been translating, often leads to the discovery of new depths of meaning in it. Somehow, the work seems to grow in significance as a result of continued attempts to interpret it. This effect I like to term ‘fractals of meaning’. Through this conversation, we were able to appreciate Mitrofanushka’s story anew, while also discussing the genius of contemporary and classic Russian literature and the thrill of translation itself.