Narrated by Paula Haydar.
A Note to Listeners
I was so excited to receive Phoebe’s invitation to subscribe to Kafka in Tangier. I’d never really seen a project of its type before. Being so entrenched in the traditional world of print book publishing, I found the idea of getting just one chapter a week delivered to my inbox so refreshing. It seems like the perfect way to read a book, and with the added bonus of hearing from the translator along the way. I can’t think of anything more engaging. I was also impressed by Phoebe’s confidence and courage to elicit feedback and be open to readers’ ideas and suggestions. A pro in the making for sure.
In my work as a literary translator, I’ve often followed a strict “one chapter a week” schedule in order to meet a publisher’s 10- or 12-month deadline. I love this system, and my favorite part has always been what I always do before moving on to the next chapter. After editing, reediting, and editing some more, I always read the chapter aloud to Adnan, my husband, colleague & mentor, closest friend, biggest admirer, and the person who not only taught me every word of Arabic I know, but also got me hooked on translation. We have followed this cherished routine for decades. When I’m finally ready with a chapter (sometimes he gets pushy waiting for the next one), he skims the Arabic silently while I read my English translation aloud. So much happens during those sessions! Not the least of which is that the act of reading aloud gives me another chance to improve my prose. Many a clunky sentence has been repaired while reading it aloud.
At any rate, when I saw Phoebe’s invitation to subscribe to Kafka in Tangier and clicked on the link to “Chapter One: The Hero with a Thousand Faces,” I naturally asked Adnan, who was sitting across the table, if he’d like me to read it aloud to him over morning coffee. He agreed, of course, and we both enjoyed the chapter a lot. An intriguing style and compelling voice, a new and interesting story by a rising author. And – we wholeheartedly agreed – a super translation by my amazing and accomplished young niece. It was Adnan who gave me the idea to record it when he said, in his usual admiring tone, “Your reading is so expressive. I bet Phoebe would love to hear you read it.” One thought led to another, and an idea was born – I could do a series of audio recordings to accompany her translated chapters, like a podcast series. So, I pitched the idea to Phoebe and sent her this first chapter as an ‘audition.’ And now, with her and the author’s enthusiastic approval, here is the first installment. Enjoy!
Paula Haydar is Assistant Professor of Arabic in the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at the University of Arkansas. She has translated fifteen contemporary Arabic novels by Lebanese, Palestinian, and Jordanian writers into English. She received her MFA in Literary Translation (1998) and PhD in Comparative Literature (2014) from the University of Arkansas.
Share this post