To say that AIs can replace human translators is to say that AI can replace human painters and sculptors and singers and poets. It's to assume that AIs as they are currently made and will be made for the foreseeable future can surpass humans in those things which require a soul.

Translators work hard to make sure that the translated words, sentences, paragraphs, chapters, etc, not only convey the author's meaning, but also the author's *style.* Translators are alchemists. They are artists, and poets, and researchers, and editors. They are magicians and wizards.

A beautiful story of resilience and trust.🦊 The Snow Fox and the Long, Long Night by Marieke Ten Berge Review by @sareenmclay.bsky.social @marieketenberge.bsky.social @michehut.bsky.social @pushkinchildrens.bsky.social #pb#childrensbooks#illustration#childrensbooksillustration#booksforkids#kidlit

Day 10, 11+ Fiction: 'Under the London Sky' by Anna Woltz & transl. by @michehut.bsky.social. Friendships form and romance blossoms during nights spent sheltering in the underground. But who will live? And who will die? @rocktheboatnews.bsky.social #Spark12BooksOfChristmas 🎄🎁📚

Here's one of my own after a yoghurt incident. #translatorswithcats

Looking for translators with cats! Please help me find my people.

Join literary translator Michele Hutchison & editor Tamara Sampey-Jawad as they explore the intricate process of editing translations -exploring collaboration, challenges & rewards of bringing international literature to new audiences. www.uea.ac.uk/groups-and-c...

Today's review...'Mushrooms and Company: How a Marvelously Moldy Network Supports Life on Earth by Geert-Jan Roebers, illustrated by Wendy Panders and translated by Michele Hutchison @greystonebooks.bsky.social Fascinating! www.throughthebookshelf.com/reviews/mushrooms-and-company

Estas dos ediciones (inglés y español) del clásico neerlandés «Val, bom» (Gerrit Kouwenaar) se gestaron en la Casa del Traductor de Amberes en un proyecto de traducción paralela entre @michehut.bsky.social y un servidor. #traduccionesgemelas @pushkinpress.com @gatopardoediciones.bsky.social 1/2

thewalrus.ca/the-publishi... good article about 'track'

188. Under the London Sky by Anna Woltz, translated by @michehut.bsky.social Another powerful story for KS3 readers weaving together untold stories from the Blitz. Read my review for @justimaginecentre.bsky.social here: justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo... @rocktheboatnews.bsky.social

Dutch writer and visual artist Jannie Regnerus creates a luminous portrait of a villager who defies family expectations to pursue an artistic life. Translated from Dutch by Michele Hutchison. Read "Cloud Pavilion" here: wordswithoutborders.org/read/article...

www.theguardian.com/technology/2... "speed eclipses ethics"

Una historia aparentemente sencilla que adquiere resonancia universal. «Monterosso mon amour» confirma a Pfeijffer como una de las voces más lúcidas de la narrativa europea contemporánea. Fabulosa reseña de Ana Calvo en El Debate. @acantiladoeditor.bsky.social tinyurl.com/wn94kez7

Schrijver én literair curator én doctor in de taalpsychologie én feminist, én activist Uschi Cop fileert vandaag in NRC het angstige en misogyne geleuter van literair agent Paul Sebes. Je leest het op het door haar (en haar zus) opgerichte collectief: www.hyster-x.com/nl/post/onho...

www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/ai-killed-... some worthy research going on here, news from the coalface. #translation

Ali Smith at Edinburgh international book festival today, so brilliant I just sat there crying. The AI live captioning, on the other hand, was laughable.

I'm in Edinburgh. I love being able to say my name and everyone spells it correctly. #scottishroots

lithub.com/on-the-lit-h... kicks off with a rave review of Donald Niedekker's permafrost book, trs Jonathan Reeder. One of my favourite books this year.

Review: Strange and Perfect Account from the Permafrost (May 2025) by Donald Niedekker (t. Jonathan Reeder) 🗺️ "Such an odd and fascinating premise gives way to a richly imagined, beautifully translated, and appropriately wry tale." ⚓️ speculativeshelf.com/2025/01/21/r... @sandorfpassage.bsky.social

"Every scientific empire falls, but not at the same speed, or for the same reasons." Fascinating article on the history of scientific empires. Soviet science, at its zenith in the mid-1950s, collapsed entirely in the late 1980s. And now American science has begun its collapse. Gift link.

I have yet to read a single story about men adopting AI at work (without being told) at a higher rate than women that presents it as anything other than men being smart. Not one story about how it implies they're lazier and less ethical. Because that's not the narrative that's being pushed about AI.

@wcorklitfest.bsky.social excellent comparative translation event in Bantry library today with Sarah Ardizzone & Antain Mac Lochlainn on Gaël Faye's novel Petit pays in English & Irish translation @antainmac.bsky.social @literatureireland.bsky.social can't wait to read the book now.

And a first review for Anna's wonderful book: worldssmallestlibrary.wordpress.com/2025/06/09/u... @oneworldbooks.bsky.social

I'll be appearing at Edinburgh book festival on 17th August with the famous Dutch children's author Anna Woltz. Come and listen to us discuss her forthcoming historical novel Under the London Sky (De tunnel), set during the Blitz. #EdBookFest @edbookfest.bsky.social

From Jen Calleja's brilliant book Fair, The Life-Art of Translation. #translatorpay #freelancersequity

Time for another reminder of how to spell my name. Hutchison, no N in the middle. The Dutch are even worse than the English at getting it wrong. If I don't reply to an email you sent it to the wrong person.

"Books For When You’re Craving Queer Love Stories Beautiful Enough To Fill Your Heart, Cut You Deep & Stay With You Forever" #theedges featured on #service95 #dualipa #queerbooks #queerlovestories @michehut.bsky.social @dauntbookspub.bsky.social More: www.service95.com/best-queer-l...

The translation process of that novel involved background research and lots of finetuning which continued in the editing stage with input from the author and (copy)editor. Mensenwerk, human work, as we say in Dutch. 2/2

"Translation handcrafted without the use of generative AI" Copyright page of one of my forthcoming translations.

Thrilling news!

The James Tait Black Prizes are the oldest literary prizes in the UK - so come along on 30 May at 4pm to find out 2025's Fiction and Biography winners! Featuring the judges and postgraduate panel, as well as Ian Penman, one of last year's winners, it's not to be missed. Free 🎟️: edin.ac/3H1ZKPi

Great talk at the International Literature Festival Dublin (@ilfdublin.bsky.social). @angelotijssens.bsky.social (left) and @michehut.bsky.social (right) discuss The Edges (written by the former, translated by the latter) and the implications of AI in literary translation.

On my way!

Thrilled to see My Heavenly Favourite on the Oxford-Weidenfeld longlist alongside some other fantastic books and translators, including my friend and colleague Kristen Gehrman.

If one of us stands up, they can pick that person off. If ten or a hundred or a thousand, they can pick those people off. And they're picking off people--immigrants, dissidents--to make an example of them. But if ten million people stand up, they cannot stop us all.

Dublin! @michehut.bsky.social and I will be talking about The Edges, translation and AI and more! Come and join us @ilfdublin.bsky.social @dauntbookspub.bsky.social #theedges #daunt #booksky #flandersliterature #flipthroughflanders #queerbooks (I'll also be introducing a screening of Close)

The #DublinLitAward 2025 Shortlist is here! 🎉 Congrats to Selva Almada (Not a River), Gerda Blees (We Are Light), Michael Crummey (The Adversary), Percival Everett (James), Paul Lynch (Prophet Song), and Daniel Mason (North Woods). Winner announced 22nd May! 🏆

The novel is narrated by a range of things, from the crime scene itself to the story, the body, a pen, senile dementia and the smell of orange peel. An excellent translation challenge! Published by World Editions #dublinliteraryaward

dublinliteraryaward.ie thrilled that Gerda Blees' debut We Are Light has made the shortlist! Alongside one of best books I've read in recent years, Prophet Song by Paul Lynch.

It's a wrap! Huge thanks to the beautiful Bàrd Books for hosting @angelotijssens.bsky.social and @michehut.bsky.social last event chaired brilliantly by Barry Pierce. Thank you Flip Through Flanders for making THE EDGES book tour possible. #booksky

Such a wonderful evening listening to Angelo Tijssens and Michele Hutchison discuss the incredible The Edges. If this book isn't on your radar - this is your chance to pick up a signed copy and immerse yourself in this quiet, sad exploration of relationships and longing ♥️

Last Monday I attended the presentation of ‘The Edges’ (the English translation of the book from my previous post) at the Flemish embassy in London. Picture: @angelotijssens.bsky.social (the author) in conversation with @michehut.bsky.social (the translator). @dauntbookspub.bsky.social

Manchester, Bristol and London! Join us next week as we celebrate @angelotijssens.bsky.social extraordinary debut THE EDGES in a series of events along with @michehut.bsky.social 📍@blackwellsmcr.bsky.social - Tue 18 March 📍@bookhaus.bsky.social - Wed 19 March 📍Bard Books - Thu 20 March

Pushkin Press's jacket design for Fall, Bomb, Fall. My first translation of a Dutch classic! #libf2025 @pushkinpress.com

#LIBF2025 London book fair as overwhelming as ever! DM me if you want to meet.

Wonderful review for Angelo's brilliant novel. So frustrating that nobody can spell my name. #namethetranslator - correctly.

Wonderful Angelo Tijssens in conversation with Alex Denny about THE EDGES ('A beguiling world filled with reckoning and melancholic sensuality. A masterfully crafted novella that leaves you wanting more.’ Tomasz Jędrowsk) - a treat for your Friday afternoon: