Reviews, Essays, Recordings, Social Media
Shocked Earth (2021, Saraband)
My translation of Saskia Goldschmidt’s novel Schokland (2018, Cossee) came out with Saraband in May 2021.
The author gave a video introduction to the novel on Earth Day 2021, in which she speaks about explains the environmental and political background to the work.
The book was launched on YouTube on the 25th May 2021 with a threeway conversation between Saskia Goldschmidt, myself and the author Helen Sedgwick. There are readings from the novel,by Saskia and myself, plus conversation on themes such as the dangers of gas extraction and fracking, the neglect of rural communities, the changing role of women, and the generational and geographical divides that separates us. The writing and translation processes are also discussed.
Helen Sedgwick tweeted:
“I absolutely loved this powerful, beautiful novel by Saskia Goldschmidt - highly recommend it to everyone!”
Ben Smith (the author of Doggerland) tweeted about Shocked Earth on its publication day:
“This excellent novel by Dutch author Saskia Goldschmidt is out in the UK today! A wonderful story of love, loss and community at the frontline of the Anthropocene”
The Limits of My Language: Meditations on Depression (2021, Pushkin Press)
My translation of Eva Meijer’s long-form essay De grenzen van mijn taal (2019, Cossee) came out with Pushkin Press in January 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 crisis.
Brian Dillon reviewed this book along with four other books on depression in the Financial Times in May 2021.
“The Limits of My Language is a short book, and blessedly reflective rather than compendious…”
Singer, songwriter, actor and novelist Nakhane has read the book and recommended it for its simplicity and readability.
Bigger Than the Facts by Jan Baeke (2020, Arc Publications)
My translation of Jan Baeke’s poetry collection Groter dan de feiten came out with Arc Publications in April 2020. It is published in the Visible Poets series, edited by Jean Boase-Beier, and features an excellent introductory essay by Francis Jones.
It was presented in a pre-launch event at the StAnza Poetry Festival 2020, when Jan Baeke read a selection of my translations of his work. I was greatly honoured to be invited by him to read a couple of my own favourites from the collection too.
Bird Cottage (2018, Pushkin Press)
My translation of Eva Meijer’s book Het vogelhuis, about the life and work of Len Howard, a British musician and ground-breaking female ornithologist, received a number of gratifying reviews in the press and other media. Follow the links below to read some of these.
The Lady, August 24th 2018 - A review of Bird Cottage by Rebecca Wallersteiner
“this bewitching book draws you to completely identify with the eccentric Howard, encourages you outdoors to see the birds with fresh eyes, and should appeal to lovers of birds and of nature alike.”
Saga, August 2018 - A review of Bird Cottage by Rose Shepherd
Birds “have personality and they flit everywhere in this delightful, poignant first-person tale… Tweet about it!”
The Guardian - ‘A Study in Avian Obsession’ - A review of Bird Cottage by Carol Birch
“Meijer gives a convincing account of total dedication and self-belief…An entertaining and thought- provoking read.”
David Hebblethwaite reviewed the novel in October 2018 for ‘Riveting Reviews’, the European Literature Network.
“Her story, as Meijer tells it, is fascinating and affecting, a portrait of a woman determined to follow her passion come what may.”
A review by Paul Gorman appeared on Into the Gyre in May 2019, when Bird Cottage was published in paperback format.
“This book took me places I didn’t expect it to… the book reminds us of the position of women in the early 20th century, at the mercy of men’s whims.”
A review by Susan Osborne appeared on A Life in Books in May 2019.
“I’d not heard of Len Howard before reading Meijer’s delightful novel but as you’ll notice this is a translated work: in her time Howard’s books – Birds as Individuals and Living with Birds – were well known, themselves translated into many languages. Her research methods were often disparaged by scientists but her work clearly had popular appeal. Using simple, clean prose, Meijer lets her subject tell own story, weaving through it observations of Star, one of Howard’s favourites.”
A review by Miles King appeared on Mark Avery’s website in July 2019.
“Meijer evokes Howard’s world, living with birds in a very intimate, sensitive and compassionate way. It’s also a testament to the skill of the translator, Antoinette Fawcett, that this survived the process of translation so successfully. The book is quite short and really enchanting, revealing the life of someone who chose to reject much of the trappings of human society, to the point of self-imposed physical hardship (during the hungry years of the Second World War she sought out butter from local farms to feed her beloved birds, not for herself) as well as discouraging visitors to her cottage with numerous signs (especially after she became something of a celebrity when her writings were published).”
A review by Louise Fligman appeared in Cub Magazine in 2019.
“Bird Cottage is a beautifully imaginative novel that delves into one woman’s life and her extraordinary relationship with birds. Mixing fact and fiction, Meijer does a superb job of bringing the birds to life so that they jump off the pages as you imagine their intimate interactions with Len.”
A review by Natalie Xenos appeared on the Culturefly website in June, 2019.
“Bird Cottage is a wonderful tribute to every bird that Len took into her heart and home, and to Len herself – a woman who was years ahead of her time.”
The translator and author Daniel Hahn interviewed Eva Meijer at the National Centre for Writing in October 2019 and then reviewed the novel for Writers Review in December that year.
“As much as anything, this is a book about communication and about relationships ... the reader feels a real warmth and joy emanating from the curious friendships that are its heart.”
My own essay on translating Bird Cottage appeared in Asymptote Journal in October, 2018.
Reviews of the novels have also appeared in various blogs, including Debjani’s Thoughts, The Bookdog, The Literary Sisters, Deborah’s Book Reviews, and Life of Kim.
One interesting piece that caught my eye was on the Kaitiaki Comsulting website in an article entitled “50 must read books for ecologists, nature lovers and climate activists’. Ecological consultant Eleanor Shields wrote from the personal perspective of having lived in Ditchling at the same time as real life Len Howard: “Eva Meijer has created the book around what she has found out about Len Howard, but it all rings true to me”. That is high praise from someone who personally knew some of the people described in the novel.
The novel was also reviewed in The Lady, the Daily Mail, Town and Country, Saga Magazine, and many more magazines and newspapers. Eva Meijer was interviewed on Radio 3 by Sean Rafferty about the novel (In Tune) and on Radio 4, Woman’s Hour, by Jenni Murray.