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The translator's task is to create, in his or her own language, the same tensions appearing in the original. That's hard!

If a translation doesn't have obvious writing problems, it may seem quite all right at first glance. We readers, after all, quickly adapt to the style of a translator, stop noticing it, and get caught up in the story.

I encourage the translators of my books to take as much license as they feel that they need. This is not quite the heroic gesture it might seem, because I've learned, from working with translators over the years, that the original novel is, in a way, a translation itself.

The existence of another, competing translation is a good thing, in general, and only immediately discouraging to one person - the translator who, after one, two, or three years of more or less careful work, sees another, and perhaps superior, version appear as if overnight.

As far as modern writing is concerned, it is rarely rewarding to translate it, although it might be easy. Translation is very much like copying paintings.

And I always read the English translation and always have conversations with my translator, for example about the names. I always have to approve it.

Of course we may have any number of translations of a given text - the more the better, really.

Translation is the art of failure.

Without translation, I would be limited to the borders of my own country. The translator is my most important ally. He introduces me to the world.