David M. Smith
@smithiganswake.bsky.social
Norwegian-to-English literary translator
Reposted by David M. Smith
“These past few days I been thankin an’ thankin bout a late summer night I tried a long time to fergit.” Read from Leif Høghaug’s debut novel The Calf, translated by @smithiganswake.bsky.social.
The Calf
These past few days I been thankin an’ thankin bout a late summer night I tried a long time to fergit. I’s a-settin here a-thankin an’ a-writin an’ soon enuff you like’ta realize that everthang I’s…
buff.ly
November 17, 2025 at 9:30 PM
“These past few days I been thankin an’ thankin bout a late summer night I tried a long time to fergit.” Read from Leif Høghaug’s debut novel The Calf, translated by @smithiganswake.bsky.social.
Dag Solstad’s Maoism-influenced novels remain untranslated—leaving a major gap in how we see one of Norway’s greatest writers. I write in @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social on why these strange, vital works matter, and why it’s past time they reached English readers.
lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-...
lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-...
The Missing Maoist Middle of Dag Solstad | Los Angeles Review of Books
David M. Smith examines the career of the great Norwegian novelist Dag Solstad, and the gaps in English translation of his work.
lareviewofbooks.org
August 18, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Dag Solstad’s Maoism-influenced novels remain untranslated—leaving a major gap in how we see one of Norway’s greatest writers. I write in @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social on why these strange, vital works matter, and why it’s past time they reached English readers.
lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-...
lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-...
Reposted by David M. Smith
People still insist on thinking of translation in terms of "equivalence." As if the act of translation was a currency exchange. Translation is too noisy, excessive for such a clean exchange. The rates do not hold. The accounts do not balance.
March 18, 2025 at 3:51 PM
People still insist on thinking of translation in terms of "equivalence." As if the act of translation was a currency exchange. Translation is too noisy, excessive for such a clean exchange. The rates do not hold. The accounts do not balance.
This one hits hard. Dag Solstad (1941-2025) is one of the greats of Norwegian literature. I'm grateful for the time I got to spend with him. He will be missed ❤️☭
March 15, 2025 at 5:36 PM
This one hits hard. Dag Solstad (1941-2025) is one of the greats of Norwegian literature. I'm grateful for the time I got to spend with him. He will be missed ❤️☭
Reposted by David M. Smith
Another year is a gift—
January 1, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Another year is a gift—