On International Translation Day 2021, the Society of Authors launched #TranslatorsOnTheCover, a campaign which calls on writers to ask their publishers to give cover credits to those who translate their works.

Signatories to an open letter written by Jennifer Croft (translator of Olga Tokarczuk’s International Booker Prize-winning Flights) and Mark Haddon (author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) ask that ‘whenever our work is translated…the name of the translator appears on the front cover’.

The letter acknowledges that it is ‘thanks to translators that we have access to world literatures past and present’ and goes on to say that translators should be ‘properly recognised, celebrated and rewarded’. At time of writing, the letter has been signed by over 1,600 authors

Commenting on the campaign, Mark Haddon said, “This is the simplest and easiest way for authors to treat translators with the gratitude and respect they deserve.”

Jennifer Croft said, “This is an essential change that takes almost no time to make and costs publishers nothing. Literature’s future must be honest, equal, and just.”

Max Porter said, “Let’s do it. All of us… Name the translator in the same breath as you name the author.”

Sarah Waters said, “Literature is a powerful crosser of borders, and it’s the labour and creativity of translators that allows that passage to happen. This simple initiative recognises and celebrates translators’ talents in a way that feels long overdue.”

You can sign the letter here.

The Society of Authors is the UK’s largest trade union for all types of writers, illustrators and literary translators. With a membership of over 11,500 and rising, they have been supporting and speaking out for authors at every career stage since 1884.

We welcome translators to join ALCS as we do collect and pay secondary royalties for translated works in our distributions. We are currently holding £250,000 in funds for translators who aren’t yet members so it’s really important to spread the word within the community. Translators can find out how to join here: https://www.alcs.co.uk/join-alcs