Translation of the Route is the first collection by award-winning Argentine poet Laura Wittner to be available in English translation. In poems that are precise, frank and finely tuned, Wittner explores the specificities of daily life – thunder at night, coffee stains, fleeting conversations and the rest – as well as parental love, life after marriage, and the reignition of the self in middle age.
Tonight, we’ll hear Laura Wittner and her translator, Glasgow-based poet Juana Adcock, for a dual-language reading from Translation of the Route in Spanish and English. You’ll have also a chance to purchase your copy of the book (also published in dual-language format) from local indie bookshop tell it slant, and even have it signed by the authors.
Co-published by Poetry Translation Centre and Bloodaxe Books.
Laura Wittner is an award-winning poet and translator from Argentina. Her books of poetry include El pasillo del tren (1996), Los cosacos (1998), Las últimas mudanzas (2001), La tomadora de café (2005), Lluvias (2009), Balbuceos en una misma dirección (2011), La altura (2016), Lugares donde una no está (2017) and Traducción de la ruta (2020). She has also published more than 20 books for children, most recently Cual para tal (2022), ¿Y comieron perdices? (2023) and Se pide un deseo (2023), and a work of non-fiction, Se vive y se traduce (Entropía, 2021). As a literary translator Wittner has translated books by Leonard Cohen, David Markson, M. John Harrison, Cynan Jones, Claire-Louise Bennett, Katherine Mansfield and James Schuyler, among many others.
Juana Adcock is a Mexican poet, translator and editor based in Scotland. She is the author of Manca (Tierra Adentro, 2014); Split (Blue Diode, 2019), which was a Poetry Book Society Choice and was included in the Guardian’s Best Poetry of 2019; Vestigial (Stewed Rhubarb, 2022); and I Sugar the Bones (Out-Spoken Press, 2024). She is co-editor of the anthology of poetry by Latin American women Temporary Archives (Arc Publications, 2022), and her translation of the Mè’phàà poet Hubert Matiúwàa’s The Dogs Dreamt received a PEN Translates award. She has also translated Lola Ancira’s The Sadness of Shadows (MTO Press, 2024).
This event is presented by the Poetry Translation Centre, the only UK organisation dedicated to translating, publishing and promoting contemporary poetry from Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The event is part of Laura Wittner and Juana Adcock’s UK tour, launching Translation of the Route.
This year, the PTC celebrates its 20th birthday year with a series of events across the UK. Find out more about the PTC’s exciting events, publications, workshops and online activity at poetrytranslation.org.
tell it slant is a small bookshop cafe in Glasgow, in the corner of Locavore local food network and grocery store. We specialise in poetry in all forms and in all languages: printed, audio and visual, including pamphlets, rare, out-of-print, and second-hand. tell it slant is 10 years old this year!
Frequently asked questions
How can I get to the bookshop?
We encourage public or active transport where possible. tell it slant is in Govanhill and is served by buses 4, 4A, 5, 6, 7, 7A, 121. It’s a 5 min walk from Queens Park Station or 10 mins from Pollokshields East & West. There are lots of bike racks nearby and it’s on a Cycle Superhighway to boot!
Tell me about access!
The shop is on the ground floor, is wheelchair accessible and has an accessible toilet. The event will not be livestreamed or BSL interpreted. Up to 25 seats are available but otherwise it’s standing. If you want to reserve a seat or have any other questions, email helen@poetrytranslation.org.
Can I buy food and drinks at the bookshop?
Yes! You can buy soft and alcoholic drinks, but the bookshop is also BYOB if you prefer. Snacks such as crisps are available to purchase, but not full meals. Victoria Road has a wonderful selection of eateries if you’re hungry.
