Today is election day in New York City, and I hope you’ve made it to the polls! Besides the obvious candidates to vote for (mayor, comptroller, public advocate, city council member) there are six ballot proposals as well, some of which are confusing enough that you will probably want to read up on them in advance, which you can do here. The New York Times has published what seem to me sound analyses of the most complicated of the lot, props four and six. The polls will be open tonight until 9:00 p.m.
And once you’re done voting, here are two great translation events to check out this week:
• On Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013, Vondel Translation Prize Winner David Colmer will present his translations of Even Now: Poems by Hugo Claus in a bilingual reading at Flanders House in the New York Times Building (he’ll be joined by Frank Ligtvoet for the bilingual part). This is the launch event for this book, published by Archipelago. Colmer has received major awards for his translations of Gerbrand Bakker, and now, in Claus, he’s translating one of the most revered writers of recent Dutch literature. Flanders House is on the 44th floor at 620 8th Ave. The event starts at 7:00 p.m. More details here.
• On Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, McNally Jackson Books will be presenting a double launch party for two books by translators who are both recent graduates of the Columbia MFA Writing Program and both recent ALTA Fellows. The book’s authors will be present as well for a joint reading and Q&A, making this an excellent chance to be introduced simultaneously to two exciting new writers and two gifted translators. The two projects are: The Sequoia Children by Gon Ben Ari, translated by Yardenne Greenspan, and A Brave Pilot from the New China by Ernesto Semán, translated by Tara FitzGerald. McNally Jackson is at 52 Prince Street, where the event will start at 8:00 p.m. More info here. Hope to see you there!