National Translation Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 4 (2010) Winner
Alex Zucker
アレックス・ザッカー
Arekkusu Zakkaa
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1964-09-01 （New Brunswick, New Jersey）
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English, Czech
- Residence History
- New Brunswick, New Jersey → East Lansing, Michigan → Prague, Czech Republic → New York, United States
Career
- Occupations
- translator, editor, copy editor, instructor
- Active Years
- 1990-
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts Amherst | — | Zoology | 理学士 (Bachelor of Science) | 1982–1986 | United States |
| Columbia University | School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) | International Affairs | 国際関係学 修士 (Master's in International Affairs) | 1988–1990 | United States |
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Zoology
Degree:
理学士 (Bachelor of Science)
Period:
1982–1986
Year of Graduation:
1986
Country:
United States
Columbia University
School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)
/ International Affairs
Degree:
国際関係学 修士 (Master's in International Affairs)
Period:
1988–1990
Year of Graduation:
1990
Country:
United States
Certificate from the Institute on East Central Europe
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | National Translation Award | All This Belongs to Me (translation of Petra Hůlová) | — | American Literary Translators Association (ALTA) | 受賞 |
| 2011 | Creative Writing Fellowship (translation project) | Marketa Lazarová (translation of Vladislav Vančura) | — | National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) | 助成（フェローシップ） |
National Translation Award
2010
Work:
All This Belongs to Me (translation of Petra Hůlová)
Organization:
American Literary Translators Association (ALTA)
Result:
受賞
Creative Writing Fellowship (translation project)
2011
Work:
Marketa Lazarová (translation of Vladislav Vančura)
Organization:
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
Result:
助成（フェローシップ）
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
All This Belongs to Me
2009 Novel (translation)An English translation of Petra Hůlová's debut novel, a contemporary work exploring family relationships and personal identity.
familyidentitycontemporary Czech society
The Opportune Moment, 1855
2011 Novel (translation)An English translation of a novel by Patrik Ouředník, notable for experimental narration and historical motifs.
historyexperimental narration
Case Closed
2010 Novel (translation)An English translation of a work by Patrik Ouředník, a satirical long-form novel.
satiresocial critique
City Sister Silver
2000 Novel (translation)An English translation of a novel by Jáchym Topol, representative of post-Kundera generation Czech literature.
citygenerationCzech literature
A Trip to the Train Station
1995 Novella (translation)An English translation of a novella by Jáchym Topol, included in Visegrad anthology publications.
travelurban landscapes
More Than One Life
1999 Novel (co-translation)A co-translation (with Lyn Coffin and Zdenka Brodská) of a novel by Miloslava Holubová.
human relationshipsself-discovery
The Game (in The Drug of Art: Selected poems of Ivan Blatný)
2007 Poetry (translation)A translation of a poem by Ivan Blatný included in the selected poems volume.
poetrymemory
Minach
2009 Play (translation)An English translation of a play by Iva Klestilová Volánková included in the anthology 'Czech Plays: Seven New Works'.
theatresocial themes
A Well-paid Walk (subtitles for Dobře placená procházka)
2008 Film subtitle translationPrepared English subtitles for Miloš Forman's film 'Dobře placená procházka' (1966), used at the U.S. premiere retrospective at MoMA in 2008.
filmsubtitle translation
Adaptations
- [Film (subtitles)] Dobře placená procházka / Miloš Forman (2008)
Bibliography
- All This Belongs to Me (translation of Petra Hůlová)
- The Opportune Moment, 1855 (translation of Patrik Ouředník)
- Case Closed (translation of Patrik Ouředník)
- City Sister Silver (translation of Jáchym Topol)
- A Trip to the Train Station (translation of Jáchym Topol)
- More Than One Life (co-translation of Miloslava Holubová)
- Minach (translation of Iva Klestilová Volánková)
- The Game (translation of Ivan Blatný poem) in The Drug of Art
Adaptations
- English subtitles for Miloš Forman's Dobře placená procházka (U.S. premiere at MoMA)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- A balanced approach that respects the original voice while adjusting style for English readabilityFluent, reader-friendly English renditions of Czech texts
- Recurring Motifs
- Portrayal of urban and historical contexts in Czech literatureExploration of generation and identity
Legacy
Alex Zucker is known for introducing Czech literature to English-speaking audiences through his translations, notably of Petra Hůlová and others. He has received the National Translation Award and an NEA fellowship, contributing significantly to the availability of contemporary Czech literature in English.
Trivia
- Won the National Translation Award in 2010 for his translation of Petra Hůlová's debut novel.
- Prepared English subtitles for Miloš Forman's Dobře placená procházka used at MoMA's retrospective in 2008.
- Worked as an editor-translator in Prague (1990–1995) for English-language Czech media.
- Has translated lyrics by Filip Topol.