Günter Grass describes his translators as "the author's best readers". He sees translators as important mediators of culture, with whom he naturally collaborates.

 

 

 

 

 

Germany's best-known living author informed himself about the work being done at the worldwide largest centre for literary translators during his visit to the Europäisches Übersetzer-Kollegium in June 2004. He advocated a stronger dialogue between translators, authors and readers.

 

Grass provided insights into his famous translators' workshop. With literary translators from more than ten countries, he worked on the translation of previously untranslated poems as well as of a piece of prose. He answered the questions of translators and the press.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grass' best known works include "Die Blechtrommel" (The Tin Drum), "Das Treffen in Telgte" (The Meeting at Telgte), "Die Rättin" (The Rat) and "Mein Jahrhundert" (My Century). In addition to novels, Grass also wrote stories, theatre plays and poems. Recently he published the novella "Im Krebsgang" (Crabwalk) in 2003. The Swedish academy announced its decision on the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Literature on 30 September 1999. It explained that Grass received the prize because his "frolicsome black fables portray the forgotten face of history".
 

 

In the evening, the Nobel Prize Laureate read from his latest works "Im Krebsgang" and "Mein Jahrhundert". 

 

  

 

"I was happy to be here with my friends, the translators. The house: a suitable refuge for emergencies. Günter Grass says many thanks on 4 June 2004."

Günter Grass on the occasion of his visit at the Europäisches Übersetzer-Kollegium on 3 and 4 June 2004