I’m a literary translator, teacher and publishing consultant working mainly with Arabic, German and Russian.
I translate fiction and nonfiction from Arabic, German and Russian for English-language publishers worldwide.
I have a particular interest in history, historical fiction, works for children and young adults, and diverse and inclusive literature, including literature by authors of colour and immigrant writers, queer writing, and texts exploring neurodiversity, disability and diffability.
I’ve translated or co-translated over 30 books, by authors from Croatia, Germany, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Russia, Slovakia, Switzerland and Syria. Several of my translations have been awarded PEN Translates awards, one was awarded an IBBY Honour List title, and others have been shortlisted for other prizes. See my full publications list here.
I’m a passionate advocate of world literature for young people and diversity in children’s publishing and education. I’m project manager of the non-profit initiative World Kid Lit, and co-editor of ArabKidLitNow! and Russophone Kid Lit blogs. I’m a children’s literature consultant for various literature festivals, and I write about translated children’s books and global reading for young people at Words Without Borders, World Kid Lit, and World Literature Today.
I also promote language learning and creative translation for young people through my workshops in schools, working in particular with the Stephen Spender Trust and Queens Translation Exchange.
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)
Translation accolades
- English PEN ‘PEN Translates’ award for Brothers by Jackie Thomae (2022)
- Selected for the IBBY Honour List, with The Raven’s Children by Yulia Yakovleva (2022)
- English PEN ‘PEN Translates’ award for The German Crocodile and Punishment of a Hunter (2020)
- English PEN ‘PEN Translates’ award for A History of the World with the Women Put Back In (2019)
- Shortlisted for the GLLI Translated YA Prize with Trees for the Absentees (2020)
- Shortlisted for the Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize for literary translation from Arabic, with Trees for the Absentees (2020)
- Shortlisted for the Helen & Kurt Wolff Translator’s Prize, with Farewell to the Horse (2019)
- Shortlisted for The Arts Foundation fellowship in literary translation (2016)
Related roles
- Cheltenham Literature Festival Reading Teachers = Reading Pupils panel member, 2022-now
- Member of the 2021 judging panel for the Society of Authors/Goethe-Institut Award for Translation from German
- Member of the Society of Authors/Translators’ Association committee, 2019-2021
- Examiner for Edexcel GCSE Arabic and Russian GCSE, and the CIOL Diploma in Translation
- Co-editor of World Kid Lit blog 2018-2021, secretary/administrator of Project World Kid Lit 2019-2023
- Arabic, German and Russian tutor for private pupils, and at Cheltenham Ladies College (2007-2014) and other Gloucestershire and Worcestershire schools
- Arabic linguist and researcher at UK civil service (2004-2009)
Professional memberships
- ALTA (American Literary Translators Association)
- IBBY UK (International Board on Books for Young People)
- 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)
Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp 