Have you ever had the privilege of admiring the work of a true professional? I have painted them, these dedicated people who move with an ease born of practice. The hands of the ceramist, the basket maker or the masseuse… The gardener who bends over the brown earth or looks up at the swaying branches.
In the last few weeks, I have seen L. O. Boult’s talent at work. Not only did he translate my second book “Of Flesh and Tears,” but he also discovered typos that the proofreader had overlooked in the French version!
The process of translation is an intellectual, and therefore invisible, labor, the value of which I could appreciate this time because it was a text I knew well. I think it takes a writer to translate another writer’s book, to understand how to choose the right word and to handle the musicality of the sentence.
L. O. Boult has published two novels in English.
“Stag Hunt” begins like a “Hangover” transposed to Wales, but diverges into deeper, darker territory. While the American film, a slapstick farce, pokes fun at it, “Stag Hunt” tells us about the dangers of alcohol and its addiction with a wry sense of humor.
“Atom Man” follows the initially hilarious trials and tribulations of Astrid who gives up everything to join a rather peculiar rock band. We watch helplessly, fascinated and horrified at her slow physical and moral degradation. A book that deals with our desires and the people who use them to better manipulate us.
I promised in my last newsletter to write a review of all my readings and, as you can see, I’m working on it.
So tell me about an experience you’ve had with a refrigerator repairman, a nurse, a singer or someone else, whose talent has impressed you. Feel free to leave a comment or send me an email.
Finally, I’d like to say thank you to all the professionals who practice their craft with such grace. And most of all, thank you to L. O. Boult.
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