Shelley Frisch
@shelfrisch.bsky.social
Translator from German, translation activist. Latest translation: NAPLES 1825, by Martin Mittelmeier (Yale UP). Current project: biography of Hannah Arendt, by Thomas Meyer (Penguin). Lives in Princeton, NJ.
A statement about David Bellos just issued by his department: www.princeton.edu/news/2025/11...
David Bellos, renowned scholar of French fiction and ‘totally brilliant translator,’ dies at age 80
His work grappled with the tricky nature of interpreting between languages and embraced the potential of language itself to help us understand the human condition.
www.princeton.edu
November 14, 2025 at 11:58 PM
A statement about David Bellos just issued by his department: www.princeton.edu/news/2025/11...
I attended this terrific panel on the nature of truth, lies, and bullshit-- and how AI accelerates the proliferation of bullshit.
Why does the truth fail against Bullshit? Listen in to the discussion and celebrate Twenty years of Harry Frankfurt’s On Bullshit.
press.princeton.edu/ideas/twenty...
#philosophy #OnBullshit
press.princeton.edu/ideas/twenty...
#philosophy #OnBullshit
Twenty years of Harry Frankfurt’s On Bullshit
Among all the attributes of AI, the models are prone to bullshitting. And so too are some humans, as the renowned philosopher Harry Frankfurt detected, and warned: “bullshit is a greater enemy of the ...
press.princeton.edu
November 14, 2025 at 5:22 AM
I attended this terrific panel on the nature of truth, lies, and bullshit-- and how AI accelerates the proliferation of bullshit.
Reposted by Shelley Frisch
A prominent far-right German activist has applied for political asylum in the U.S., as the Trump administration has signaled plans to prioritize protections for White refugees and Europeans who claim they are being targeted for their populist views.
German far-right activist seeks asylum in U.S. as Trump ties deepen
Social media influencer Naomi Seibt, a supporter of the nationalist AfD party, said she is being persecuted in Germany for her political views.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:00 PM
A prominent far-right German activist has applied for political asylum in the U.S., as the Trump administration has signaled plans to prioritize protections for White refugees and Europeans who claim they are being targeted for their populist views.
RIP to a dear friend and eminent scholar, David Bellos.
October 27, 2025 at 3:17 PM
RIP to a dear friend and eminent scholar, David Bellos.
Reposted by Shelley Frisch
Happy birthday, Hannah Arendt!
October 14, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Happy birthday, Hannah Arendt!
Reposted by Shelley Frisch
Just in case the dramatically low Leni Riefenstahl-style angle was too subtle, they used a word from her most famous movie
October 13, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Just in case the dramatically low Leni Riefenstahl-style angle was too subtle, they used a word from her most famous movie
Reposted by Shelley Frisch
Two German regions each claimed to have the oldest bratwurst.
They decided to settle it in the boxing ring.
I attended the historic fight at the German Bratwurst Museum in Thuringia.
(Did I mention that I love my job?)
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
They decided to settle it in the boxing ring.
I attended the historic fight at the German Bratwurst Museum in Thuringia.
(Did I mention that I love my job?)
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
In Germany, a boxing match decides fight over birthplace of bratwurst
Two regions competing for bragging rights to bratwurst, Germany’s signature sausage, took their battle into a boxing ring in a ham-fisted bid to settle the matter.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 30, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Two German regions each claimed to have the oldest bratwurst.
They decided to settle it in the boxing ring.
I attended the historic fight at the German Bratwurst Museum in Thuringia.
(Did I mention that I love my job?)
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
They decided to settle it in the boxing ring.
I attended the historic fight at the German Bratwurst Museum in Thuringia.
(Did I mention that I love my job?)
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
First glimpse of the cover image for my forthcoming translation of Thomas Meyer's biography of Hannah Arendt, to be pub by Penguin next year.
September 19, 2025 at 6:22 PM
First glimpse of the cover image for my forthcoming translation of Thomas Meyer's biography of Hannah Arendt, to be pub by Penguin next year.
Reposted by Shelley Frisch
Reposted by Shelley Frisch
Have Germans become the slackers of Europe -- and of the entire developed world? The data certainly says so.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
September 9, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Have Germans become the slackers of Europe -- and of the entire developed world? The data certainly says so.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
Germany canning ravioli in preparation for war: www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
Germany’s latest preparation for war: A national ravioli reserve
Wary of a warmongering Russia, Germany is refitting its military, buying weapons, recruiting soldiers and also contemplating new strategic reserves of canned food.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 7, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Germany canning ravioli in preparation for war: www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
Reposted by Shelley Frisch
@martinmitt.bsky.social celebrates the 100th anniversary of critical theory in Naples. Martin Mittelmeier is the author of NAPLES 1925 (in my translation, pub. Yale UP).
Martin Mittelmeier, author of Naples 1925, writes about the 100th anniversary of critical theory in Naples, to the day in August 19, 1925.
The 100th Anniversary of Critical Theory in Naples - Yale University Press
Martin Mittelmeier— 100 years ago, Theodor Adorno and Siegfried Kracauer began their journey to Naples, where they met Walter Benjamin and Alfred Sohn-Rethel. This meeting transformed their way of thinking... READ MORE
yalebooks.yale.edu
August 26, 2025 at 8:32 PM
@martinmitt.bsky.social celebrates the 100th anniversary of critical theory in Naples. Martin Mittelmeier is the author of NAPLES 1925 (in my translation, pub. Yale UP).
Congratulations to translator Paul Reitter!! www.goethe.de/ins/us/en/ku...
Goethe-Institut USA | Wolff Translator's Prize | Paul ReitterLogo Goethe-Institut
www.goethe.de
May 15, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Congratulations to translator Paul Reitter!! www.goethe.de/ins/us/en/ku...
This year's Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize shortlist! www.goethe.de/ins/us/en/ku...
Shortlist 2025 - Helen & Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize - Goethe-Institut USALogo Goethe-Institut
www.goethe.de
May 2, 2025 at 7:13 PM
This year's Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize shortlist! www.goethe.de/ins/us/en/ku...
My son Aaron has a new post at the Washington Post! www.washingtonpost.com/pr/2025/04/2...
Aaron Wiener named Berlin Bureau Chief
www.washingtonpost.com
April 22, 2025 at 2:39 PM
My son Aaron has a new post at the Washington Post! www.washingtonpost.com/pr/2025/04/2...
Reposted by Shelley Frisch
Some federal workers have been informed in the past two days that under Trump's return-to-office mandate, they have until *Monday* to report to offices that in some cases are hundreds of miles away.
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
Federal workers told to report to faraway offices—with days’ notice
Some government employees were told this week that they have until Monday to report to offices that in some cases are hundreds of miles away.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 14, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Some federal workers have been informed in the past two days that under Trump's return-to-office mandate, they have until *Monday* to report to offices that in some cases are hundreds of miles away.
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
New! Been waiting to get my hands on this one…
March 11, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Finished Naples 1925: Adorno, Benjamin, and the Summer That Made Critical Theory, by Martin Mittelmeier. I had almost no foundational background to read this, but it was a good overture for someone in my position, and now's a good time to start!
March 11, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Here's the set of submissions for this year's Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize-- an exciting group of German-to-English translations published in 2024! www.goethe.de/ins/us/en/ku...
Submissions 2025
These titles, all published in the USA or Canada in 2024, were submitted for consideration for this year's Helen & Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize.
www.goethe.de
January 23, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Here's the set of submissions for this year's Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize-- an exciting group of German-to-English translations published in 2024! www.goethe.de/ins/us/en/ku...
I'm watching Jeopardy, and the clue was just about whose biography REINER STACH wrote!!! I'm in (happy) shock.
January 10, 2025 at 12:19 AM
I'm watching Jeopardy, and the clue was just about whose biography REINER STACH wrote!!! I'm in (happy) shock.
NAPLES 1925, by @martinmitt.bsky.social (in my translation) has just been named one of New Yorker's best books of the year!! www.newyorker.com/best-books-2...
The Best Books We’ve Read in 2024 So Far
Reviews of notable new fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.
www.newyorker.com
December 4, 2024 at 1:00 AM
NAPLES 1925, by @martinmitt.bsky.social (in my translation) has just been named one of New Yorker's best books of the year!! www.newyorker.com/best-books-2...
I'm delighted by this New Yorker review, by Thomas Meaney, of Martin Mittelmeier's NAPLES 1925 (in my translation, published by @yalepress.bsky.social) in the latest (Dec. 2) issue:https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/12/02/naples-1925-martin-mittelmeier-book-review
November 25, 2024 at 4:58 PM
I'm delighted by this New Yorker review, by Thomas Meaney, of Martin Mittelmeier's NAPLES 1925 (in my translation, published by @yalepress.bsky.social) in the latest (Dec. 2) issue:https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/12/02/naples-1925-martin-mittelmeier-book-review