Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp

Ruth summer 2019 close up.jpg

Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp is a literary translator working from Arabic, German and Russian into English.

She translates fiction and nonfiction, and has a particular interest in history, historical fiction, and writing for children and young adults.

Her translations include books from Germany, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Russia, Switzerland and Syria. See her full publications list here.

Ruth is a passionate advocate of world literature for young people and diversity in children’s publishing. She is co-editor of ArabKidLitNow! and Russophone Kid Lit blogs, and writes about global reading for young people at World Kid Lit, Words Without Borders, and World Literature Today.

Ruth gives creative translation workshops in schools, and promotes #WorldKidLitMonth in September.

Qualifications

  • MA in Translation and Interpreting (University of Bath, 2006)
  • CIOL Diploma in Translation: from Arabic (2013), from German and Russian (2004)
  • MA Oxon Modern and Medieval Languages (University of Oxford, 2003)

Accolades

Professional memberships

  • ALTA (American Literary Translators Association)
  • IBBY UK
  • ITI WRG (Institute of Translation and Interpreting Western Regional Group)
  • SCBWI (Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators)
  • Society of Authors (including the Translators’ Association)