Emmy Bos
is the Winner of the John Glassco Prize for Literary Translation
for 2004


        This year's John Glassco Prize, awarded by the Literary Translators' Association of Canada, goes to Emmy Bos, for her translation from Dutch to French of the novel Modelvliegen, by Marcel Möring, which was originally published in the Netherlands by Meulenhoff in 2000. The French version, La chambre d'amis, was brought out last year by La Maison d'édition Les Allusifs in Montreal.

The Prize — which includes a cheque for $1000 — was officially awarded on September 30, International Translation Day, during a literary evening held at the Atrium of Concordia University, on Docteur-Penfield Avenue in Montreal. The members of this year's jury were Michelline Sainte-Marie, Ray Ellenwood, and Robert Melançon. The jury considered that Emmy Bos was able to convey the novel's mysterious atmosphere while at the same time rendering the author's precise, poetic style. On accepting the Prize, Ms. Bos thanked her publisher, Brigitte Bouchard, for having given her the opportunity to translate the book.

        The John Glassco Prize, which was established in 1982, is awarded annually for a translator's first published book-length literary translation. The work can be translated from any language into either English or French. John Glassco, who gave his name to the Prize, was a well-known writer and translator who died in 1981. Among his achievements is the translation of Saint-Denys Garneau's poetry and journal into English.

        The judges also agreed that an honourable mention should be awarded to the book Haiku in Papiamentu, written by Elis Juliana in Papiamentu, the creole language of the Dutch West Indies, which was translated into English by Hélène Garrett and published by the University of Alberta. They found this book to be a remarkable linguistic and cultural project — and a highly sensitive translation which conveys both the cadence and lushness of the original.



Hugh Hazelton
President, John Glassco Prize Committee