Call for Translator and Editor: the Poetry of Dun Karm Psaila

The National Book Council is launching a new translation project of national importance – the publication of a selection of poems by Dun Karm Psaila, translated into English. The project has been entrusted to the NBC by the government with the aim of ensuring that the poetry of the national poet of Malta, and one of the founding fathers of modern Maltese literature, will be available to readers in different countries around the world.

To this end, the Council is seeking to employ the services of a qualified and experienced individual, who will fulfill the role of translator and editor in selecting and translating a collection of the best poems by Dun Karm. Both the publication process and the administration of the project will be handled by the NBC, which will retain the final say regarding the selection of poems, the quality of the translation and other aspects of the publication (such as style, format and the information in the preliminary pages). The chosen translator/editor will be able to involve other translators in the project under his or her direction as editor.

Applicants should send a sample translation of a selection of Dun Karm’s poetry. There is no limit on the number of poems in the selection of the sample translations but the application should also include a letter of intent (with justification), a bibliography, a project plan with estimates for the services, the applicant’s CV and a photocopy of their ID card.

The applications will be first assessed for eligibility by the staff of the NBC. Following this initial selection, the Council will appoint an adjudication board of academics and translators to assess the proposals.

Applications should be sent to the Secretary, National Book Council (c/o Librerija Pubblika Ċentrali, Triq Joseph J. Mangion, Floriana FRN 1800) by 15 May 2018.

The selection criteria can be downloaded from this link.