On behalf of a UK-based publisher, our veteran project manager Melanie collaborated with our translator Lisa on a remarkable literary translation. Our client had approached us with an 18th-century piece of French literature penned by one of the grandfathers of divination. Even as specialists in literary translations, a project of this calibre – involving such specific and arguably archaic writing – constitutes a rare challenge, albeit one that we thoroughly enjoyed! In this article, we outline how we managed this very special project.
Finding the right person for the job
When first presented with this task, we set off in search of linguists. Not everyone can translate a niche topic such as tarot, least of all when the text is over 250 years old! Scanning our database boasting hundreds of qualified translators, Melanie contacted a handful of suitable candidates, checking credentials and experience. Our trustworthy team member Lisa was chosen as the right woman for the job. With a background in museums and festivals, Lisa specialises in translation for the culture & heritage and literary sectors and has even localised board games. Equipped with this skillset, she was a great fit for this assignment.
Reading between the cards
As you can imagine, a text dating back centuries presented quite the linguistic challenge. Unlike with modern-day literature, where the author is still alive and well, here we found ourselves unable to ask the author for further guidance on or context for certain words. Given that language has changed a fair bit since the original time of writing, the text consequently threw up a myriad of questions.
One example was the word camion. In modern-day French, this literally translates to ‘truck’ or ‘lorry’. Yet back in the day, this term was used to refer to a very small [wooden] pin. So when the French text uses the now-outdated phrase retrouver un camion dans un monceau de foin, it’s a case of finding a needle in a haystack, and certainly not a lorry!
Added to this was the phrase sur son assiette, which translates today as ‘on its plate’. From studying the context, we were able to ascertain that it referred to a card standing ‘in its upright position’. The verb opérer also featured in the text: Literally meaning to operate [e.g. a machine or on a patient], the phrasing turned out to mean ‘perform a card reading’ in this particular work. Examples like these just go to show that context really is key.
Decoding a deck – scanned pages
What’s more, the text – quite understandably – was only available in a scanned, non-editable format. While this meant that we had to work outside of our dedicated translation software (because text in PDF scans is not recognisable), the bigger problem was the scanning quality itself. Certain passages of text appeared unsurprisingly faint, blurred or smudged. Luckily, by engaging in a spot of educated guesswork, liaising with the client’s tarot expert, and leaning on the wider context of the work, we were able to reach conclusions about the author’s intentions.
Research & teamwork – a recipe for success
Through in-depth research and integrating the insights of our French-speaking project manager Laura, we managed to elicit meanings to render a faithful translation in English. We are immensely proud of the fruits of our labour, having delivered just shy of 20,000 words in the space of six weeks. We are looking forward to seeing our hard work printed on paper later this year and to continuing our collaboration with this publishing house in future.
Turning tarot into text: First Edition Translations
First Edition Translations is a certified translation agency based in Cambridge, UK. Boasting decades of expertise in the cultural and creative industries, we are a founding member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) and part of the Association for Cultural Enterprises (ACE) – a reflection of our dedication to both our own craft and that of our clients. We specialise in translation, editing, proofreading and typesetting for books of all kinds, covering everything from children’s tales to… well, tarot cards! If you’d like to explore how we can help elevate your standing on the international literary stage, our project managers are always happy to advise at enquiries@firstedit.co.uk.
And if you’re attending this year’s London Book Fair (12-16 March 2026), you can meet up with our Director Ana to discuss all things multilingual. We are always happy to chit-chat with contacts new and old at publishing events.