John Dryden Translation Competition
John Dryden
Introduction
The John Dryden Translation Competition is sponsored by the British Comparative Literature Association and the British Centre for Literary Translation. Prizes are awarded for the best unpublished literary translations from any language into English, subject to finding a reader (entrance fee will be refunded if no reader is available). Literary translation includes poetry, prose, or drama from any period. The competition is currently hosted by the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies at the University of Leeds. The judges’ panel is chaired by Dr Jacob Blakesley and Dr Caroline Summers.
First prize: £400; second prize: £250; third prize: £150; other entries may receive commendations.
All three prizes also include one year’s BCLA membership.
The John Dryden Translation Competition 2022 – 2023 is now open. The competition deadline is 6 February 2023.
Your John Dryden Translation Competition Entry
A Call For Entries
The British Comparative Literature Association organises a translation competition in memory of the first British poet laureate John Dryden (1631–1700), who was a literary critic, translator, and playwright as well as a poet. Sponsored jointly with the British Centre for Literary Translation at the University of East Anglia, the John Dryden Translation Competition awards prizes for unpublished literary translations from any language into English. Literary translation includes poetry, prose, or drama from any period.
John Dryden Competition Panel
The Judges
Judges will be selected from the following, and will be assisted by expert bilingual readers specialising in the literatures for which entries are received.
Dr Jacob Blakesley
Associate professor in comparative literature and literary translation
Robert Chandler
Translator
This year's winners
Winners of the 2021-2022 John Dryden Translation Competition
The British Comparative Literature Association would like to announce the winners of the 2021-2022 BCLA/BCLT John Dryden Translation Competition, chosen from over 100 entries and 29 different languages.
Many thanks to everyone who entered the competition.
First Place
Ailsa Wood Azzaro
for The Beatrice Monologues translated from Stefano Benni’s Italian text Le Beatrici
Second Place
Rachel Farmer
for Incoming Tide translated from Achim Engstler and Astrid Dehe’s German text Auflaufend Wasser.
Third Place
Clive Watkins
for The Occasions: Seventeen Poems translated from Eugenio Montale’s Italian text Le Occasioni.
Highly Commended
Isobel Foxford
for Steppe translated from Olavo Amaral’s Portuguese text Estepe.
Highly Commended
Jesper Gulddal
for Rousseau’s Island, or St Peter in the Biel translated from Jens Baggesen’s Danish text Rousseaus Ø, eller St. Peter I Bielersøen.
Highly Commended
Marina Sofia
for The Holiday Game from Mihail Sebastian’s Romanian text Jocul de-a vacanţa.
The shortlist also included:
- Michelle Mirabella for An Island translated from Catalina Infante Beovic’s Spanish text Una Isla.
- Yana Ellis for Berlin – Moscow a Journey on Foot translated from Wolfgang Büscher’s German text Berlin – Moskau eine Reise zu Fuß.
- Jack Hargreaves for The Magic Pen translated from Chen Chuncheng’s (陈春成) Chinese text 传彩笔.
- Lindsey Ford for 90% REAL translated from Andrea Chapela’s Spanish text 90% REAL [From the short story collection ‘Ansibles, perfiladores y otras máquinas de ingenio].
On behalf of the organisers and judges, we would like to welcome entrants to the competition. The deadline for next year’s competition will be announced at a later date.
