We’ve got literature in our veins. At the dawn of the 1980s, when our translation agency first started out, we focused nigh-on exclusively on book translations. Sure enough, we have widened our horizons over time, having also specialised in the worlds of medicine, law and technology. Yet literary translation has remained a core part of our identity. And when they’re not on the clock, you can often find our team members with their nose in a book. Ahead of this year’s Frankfurter Buchmesse (FBM), where you can find us at Halle 6.1/B121, our project managers share some of their reading recommendations.
Laura: The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
This haunting read is an absolute classic for science-fiction fans. In the aftermath of a freak cosmic event that leaves the majority of the global population blind, we follow the journey of biologist Bill Masen and novelist Josella Playton, two of the lucky few who still have their vision. As society rapidly breaks down, various threats linger – violent mobs, sickness, emerging paramilitary organisations and an abundance of Triffids, walking carnivorous plants that can kill at the simple lash of their stinger. Bill and Josella, and those they meet along the way, approach survival in their own ways as they grapple as best they can with these novel dangers. First published in the early 1950s, The Day of the Triffids has undoubtedly inspired many post- apocalyptic novelists and screenplay writers. The book has since also been translated into numerous languages, including Danish, French, German, Hungarian and Japanese.
Svetlana: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
This classic comedy science-fiction book is the first of the ‘trilogy of five books’ written by Douglas Adams. It follows the adventures of Arthur Dent who manages to escape from Earth mere moments before it is destroyed by the Vogons (a race of unpleasant and bureaucratic aliens) to make way for a hyperspace bypass. Arthur goes on an adventure through the Galaxy, learns about the importance of always carrying a towel, meets Marvin the Paranoid Android, and discovers a shocking revelation about the origin of Earth that puts his life at risk. Known for its absurdist and non-sensical humour, this novel looks at existentialism, religion and our place in the universe. It has been translated into multiple languages, including my native Bulgarian, and I had the honour of having the translator as one of my university teachers.
Ana: A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge
Award-winning writer Frances Hardinge hails from the quaint town of Kent and has written various short stories and novels. A Face Like Glass, which was published under Macmillan in 2012, was her fifth book and tells a dark tale of deception. This coming-of-age story is set in the underground city of Caverna, where master craftsmen toil away on questionable inventions and where people with faces “as blank as untouched snow” must learn from so-called facesmiths to show emotions. We meet a young girl named Neverfell, who has no recollection of her past and whose expressive face – something unique in Caverna – must be masked at all times to protect her from envy, spite and exploitation. Embarking on a journey into Caverna’s secrets, Neverfell uncovers truths that call into question everything she thought she knew.
Kasia: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
This 2011 publication won the US National Academy of Sciences book award – which is just one of a myriad of accolades, including a Nobel Prize, that Dr Kahneman picked up over the course of his career. The author navigates the two systems of human thought: System 1, which is built on speed, intuition and emotion, and System 2, which is slower, deliberate, and logical. Kahneman investigates how our tendency to rely on rapid, automatic thinking can give rise to bias and errors in judgment. At the same time, he shows how we have greater difficulty to engage in slower, more analytical thought processes – despite these being more accurate. This highly insightful psychology book sheds light on how these dual systems influence the decisions we make, how we perceive the world, and how we act within it. Rather unsurprisingly, the book has been translated into a long list of languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
Melanie: After the Quake by Haruki Murakami
Murakami’s signature style of magic realism – which seamlessly integrates the weird and wonderful into everyday settings – is present throughout this collection of six short stories, each of which is set in the aftermath of the 1995 Kobe earthquake. Although none of the characters are directly affected by the disaster, the quake serves as a symbolic backdrop, shaking the emotional foundations of their lives. The tales explore themes of loss, identity, broken relationships, childhood memories and the ways people seek healing. The characters – ranging from a disillusioned writer to a lonely salesman – grapple with unresolved trauma, existential questions and the fragility of human connection. In Super-Frog Saves Tokyo, for example, a giant frog enlists a timid banker to help prevent a second catastrophe, blending absurdity with heroism. Honey Pie, meanwhile, follows a writer who must confront his past and choose between safety and emotional honesty. All in all, Murakami invites readers to reflect on how external events can provoke internal change and leave a lasting impact on our soul. This book was originally written in Japanese and has since been translated into English.
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First Edition Translations is a long-standing language service provider headquartered in Cambridge with a core focus on editorial content. As a certified translation agency, we offer services for the translation, editing, proofreading and typesetting of publications. Fiction, non-fiction, audiobooks, or eBooks – we’ve done it all. We cover a wide range of languages, working with vetted professional translators, editors and desktop publishing experts.
We’ve collaborated with a string of publishers and cultural institutions – including Arcturus, Bolinda, Cambridge University Press, DK, Octopus, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art – and have even secured some awards along the way. To find out more, you can explore our website or drop us an email at enquiries@firstedit.co.uk. You can also speak to us in person at the upcoming FBM event (Halle 6.1/B121).