Der neue Bereich unseres Portals macht es sich zum Anliegen, die internationalen Literaturszenen Berlins zu kartographieren, die handelnden Personen und ihre Schauplätze sichtbar und zugänglich zu machen. 
Die Entstehung der Rubrik wurde durch eine Förderung des Hauptstadtkulturfonds ermöglicht. 

Jesper Festin

Translator

Jesper Festin
© Therese Korritter

Profile

Born: 1988
Birthplace: Uppsala
Country of birth: Sweden
Lives in: Berlin, Pankow


Source language: German
Target language: Swedish

Vita

 Jesper Festin was born 1988 in Uppsala, not far from Fyris River. Since 2014 he lives as a freelance translator near small Panke River in the North of Berlin. After his German Studies at University of Lund and at the Humboldt University in Berlin he participated at the German-Swedish Workshop organized by the “Europäische Übersetzerschmiede” at the Baltic Centre Visby and the Translator’s House in Looren. It was there where he should meet not only his future editor, but his girlfriend also. A Master of Fine Arts in Literary Translation at the Valand Academy in Göteborg, first contracts and more Workshops were following. He received an honorable mention from the Swedish Translator Awards Arets översättning in 2015, for his translation of children’s poems Jag stor du liten.

6 Questions

What brought you to Berlin? Love? World politics? Or was it a coincidence?

Love and coping with restlessness.


What do you love about Berlin?

The abundance of bookshops.


What do you miss in Berlin?

The shutdown of Tegel Airport.


What is your favorite spot in Berlin?

Panke River. For walking alongside, cycling next to, sitting on its bank. Not for swimming, though.


Would you say you are a different person in Berlin? A different translator? And if yes, in what way?

„Me, me, me, me, … after only four times, a meaningless word.”


Which existing literary work do you wish you had written?

„The Death of a Beekeeper“ by Lars Gustafsson.

Awards

2016  Shortlist IBBY Peter Pan Award. 

2015  Honorable mention Translation of the Year, Sweden.

Work

Translated publications

Peter Handke, Die Obstdiebin / Frukttjuven

Albert Bonniers, Stockholm, 2020 Roman

Marion Poschmann, Die Kieferninseln / Tallöarna

Norstedts, Stockholm, 2019 Roman

Charlotte Beradt, Das Dritte Reich des Traums / Drömmar i Tredje riket

Ersatz, Stockholm, 2018 Sachbuch

Ferdinand von Schirach, Tabu

Lindelöws bokförlag, Göteborg, 2017 Novel

Bastian Obermayer & Frederik Obermaier, Panama Papers. Die Geschichte einer weltweiten Enthüllung / Panamadokumenten. Berättelsen om världens största läcka

Weyler förlag, Stockholm, 2016 Non-fiction

Daniel Kehlmann, Tyll / Tyll

Albert Bonniers, Stockholm, 2019 Roman

Sasha Marianna Salzmann, Außer sich / Utom sig

Weyler, Stockholm, 2019 Roman

Benedict Wells, Vom Ende der Einsamkeit

Bokförlaget Thorén & Lindskog, Göteborg, will be published in 2017 Novel

Sacha Batthyany, Und was hat das mit mir zu tun? / Och vad har det med mig att göra?

Weyler förlag, Stockholm, 2017 Non-Fiction

Lilli L'Arronge, Ich groß du klein / Jag stor du liten

Kabusa böcker, Göteborg, 2015 Children’s literature