Helen Tracy Lowe-Porter, Lost Lady of Translation — with Jo Salas

Send us Fan MailYou may think you’ve never read anything by Helen Tracy Lowe-Porter, but if you’ve read any Thomas Mann, there’s a good chance you’ve seen her handiwork. Lowe-Porter was a writer and translator whose greatest (but largely unsung) success came in the form of translating 22 monumental works by the German literary giant. Her English translations of Mann’s work proved pivotal in his being awarded the Nobel Prize in 1929. A new novel tells her hidden story, and its author, Jo Salas (who has family ties to the translator) joins us in this episode to discuss Lowe-Porter’s triumphs and tribulations.Mentioned in this episode:Mrs. Lowe-Porter by Jo SalasDancing with Diana by Jo SalasCharlotte Endymion PorterPoet LoreElias LoweAlfred and Blanche KnopfThomas MannAudible audiobook of Lowe-Porter’s translation of BuddenbrooksLowe-Porter’s translation of The Magic MountainLowe-Porter’s translation of Death in VeniceLowe-Porter’s tranlsation of Dr. Faustus“Abdication Or, All is True” by Helen Lowe-PorterThe execution of Ethel RosenbergAlbert EinsteinArticle: A Tribute to Lost Ladies of Translation by Marie LebertA History of Translation in 150 Portraits by Marie LebertSupport the showFor episodes and show notes, visit: LostLadiesofLit.comSubscribe to our substack newsletter.Follow us on instagram @lostladiesoflit. Email us: Contact — Lost Ladies of Lit Podcast