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Daniel Hahn

ダニエル・ハーン

Danieru Hān

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1973-11-26 （London, UK）
Nationality
United Kingdom
Languages
English

Career

Occupations
Author, Editor, Translator
Active Years
1998-
Affiliations
Translators Association, Society of Authors, British Centre for Literary Translation, English PEN, The Children's Bookshow, Modern Poetry in Translation
Memberships
Translators Association, Society of Authors, Royal Society of Literature
Nominations
International Booker Prize shortlist (2016) — A General Theory of Oblivion (translation), International Booker Prize longlist (2022) — Phenotypes (translation), International Booker Prize longlist (2024) — Simpatía (co-translation)

Awards

Independent Foreign Fiction Prize
2007
Work: The Book of Chameleons (translation)
Organization: The Independent
Result: 受賞
International Dublin Literary Award
2017
Work: A General Theory of Oblivion (translation)
Organization: Dublin Literary Award
Result: 受賞（受賞金の25％を受領）
Blue Peter Book Award
Work: The Ultimate Book Guide (volume 1, co-editor)
Organization: Blue Peter
Result: 受賞（第1巻が受賞）
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
2020
Organization: The British honours system
Result: 任命（文学への貢献）
Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
2020
Organization: Royal Society of Literature
Result: 選出
Ottaway Award for the Promotion of International Literature
2023
Organization: Words Without Borders
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Tower Menagerie

2003 Non-fiction (history)

A popular-history book about the animals and history associated with the Tower of London.

historyanimalscultural history

Happiness Is a Watermelon on Your Head

2013 Children's picture book

A humorous picture book for children exploring friendship and imagination.

friendshiphumorimagination

The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature (editor, new edition)

2015 Reference

New edition of a reference work on children's literature; Hahn contributed as an editor.

children's literaturereference

The Book of Chameleons (José Eduardo Agualusa; translation by Daniel Hahn)

2006 Novel (translation)

An English translation of a novel by José Eduardo Agualusa; the translation brought international recognition.

identitymemoryhistory

A General Theory of Oblivion (José Eduardo Agualusa; translation by Daniel Hahn)

2016 Novel (translation)

An English translation of a novel set against Angola's recent history; known for its role in winning the International Dublin Literary Award.

historyisolationmemory

Bibliography

  • The Tower Menagerie (2003)
  • Happiness Is a Watermelon on Your Head (2013)
  • The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature (editor, 2015)
  • The Book of Chameleons (translation)
  • A General Theory of Oblivion (translation)

Translations of Works

  • The Book of Chameleons (translation)
  • A General Theory of Oblivion (translation)
  • Pelé autobiography (translation)
  • Phenotypes (translation)
  • Simpatía (co-translation)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Clear, accessible proseFriendly tone for children's worksTranslation approach that respects original voice and tone
Recurring Motifs
translation and cultural mediationmemory and historychildren's literature and literacy promotion

Legacy

Daniel Hahn has made significant contributions to translation and children's literature in the English-speaking world; through prize-winning translations and leadership roles in literary organizations he has supported the translation community and wider literary culture.

Academic Societies

  • Royal Society of Literature

Trivia

  • In 2017 he donated half of his International Dublin Literary Award winnings to help establish the TA First Translation Prize for debut translators.
  • He was appointed OBE in 2020.
  • Several of his translations have been longlisted or shortlisted for the International Booker Prize.