Translators/Interpreters in Fiction (65 books)

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A list featuring translators/interpreters as PROTAGONISTS :)

Please help build this list for fellow translators/interpreters, or anyone who is interested in the craft!

There's a running cliche about how translators shadow the original without having their own voices, and are pretty much invisible. This is a small project that aims to help make the invisible a little more visible.

[Edited 2018: Thank you so much to all who have contributed! I've not checked back in years, and am thrilled to see how this list has grown. I look forward to reading them all!]

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1	Bel Canto by Ann Patchett 3.94 avg rating — 341,474 ratings score: 495, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine 3.83 avg rating — 14,869 ratings score: 400, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	I Am China by Xiaolu Guo 3.72 avg rating — 1,124 ratings score: 290, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Shōgun (Asian Saga, #1) by James Clavell 4.41 avg rating — 222,062 ratings score: 290, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Intimacies by Katie Kitamura (Goodreads Author) 3.64 avg rating — 45,445 ratings score: 200, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	The Translator's Bride by João Reis (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 524 ratings score: 200, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Revolution: 80 Days by Arius Lauren Raposas really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 12 ratings score: 200, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Missing Shade of Blue by Jennie Erdal 3.67 avg rating — 217 ratings score: 199, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	The Translator by Nina Schuyler (Goodreads Author) 3.63 avg rating — 1,192 ratings score: 196, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	The Interpreter by Suzanne Glass 3.32 avg rating — 160 ratings score: 194, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Pinball, 1973 (The Rat, #2) by Haruki Murakami 3.50 avg rating — 23,253 ratings score: 194, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Tatiana (Arkady Renko, #8) by Martin Cruz Smith 3.79 avg rating — 5,859 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Spring Tides by Jacques Poulin 3.57 avg rating — 930 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Legacy Of Silence by Flo Fitzpatrick (Goodreads Author) 3.33 avg rating — 24 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Lost in Translation by Edward Willett (Goodreads Author) 3.71 avg rating — 63 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany 3.72 avg rating — 20,950 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Forever Betrayed (Forever Bluegrass, #3) by Kathleen Brooks (Goodreads Author) 4.62 avg rating — 1,883 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Entre Deux Voix - Journal d'une jeune interprète de conférence by Jenny Sigot Müller (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 11 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Translator by Leila Aboulela (Goodreads Author) 3.56 avg rating — 2,461 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Drunk on All Your Strange New Words by Eddie Robson 3.89 avg rating — 3,998 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Les Rêveurs définitifs by Camille de Peretti 2.98 avg rating — 46 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	La traducción by Pablo De Santis 3.26 avg rating — 518 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Dining Out Around the Solar System (Dining Out Around The Solar System, #1) by Clare O'Beara (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 89 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Daniel Stein, Interpreter by Lyudmila Ulitskaya 4.20 avg rating — 2,407 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Gray Shadows by Julia Gousseva (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 102 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	La caverna de las ideas by José Carlos Somoza 4.02 avg rating — 3,948 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Godmother by Hannelore Cayre 3.72 avg rating — 5,674 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Acrobate de l'instant - L'interprétation de conférence sur le fil by Jenny Sigot Müller (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Translation State by Ann Leckie (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 18,956 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	The Earthquake Bird by Susanna Jones 3.39 avg rating — 2,099 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Pursued by the Rich Rancher by Catherine Mann (Goodreads Author) 3.89 avg rating — 104 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Dining Out with the Ice Giants (Dining Out Around The Solar System, #2) by Clare O'Beara (Goodreads Author) 4.33 avg rating — 45 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	The Greek Interpreter by Arthur Conan Doyle 3.61 avg rating — 3,480 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	The Athenian Murders by José Carlos Somoza 4.02 avg rating — 3,948 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Dining Out with the Gas Giants (Dining Out Around The Solar System, #3) by Clare O'Beara (Goodreads Author) 4.54 avg rating — 13 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Barefoot with a Bad Boy (Barefoot Bay Undercover, #3; Barefoot Bay Universe, #14) by Roxanne St. Claire (Goodreads Author) 4.37 avg rating — 732 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 59,606 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	To Your Scattered Bodies Go (Riverworld, #1) by Philip José Farmer 3.93 avg rating — 34,298 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Seduction (Love at the Beach #1) by Laura Taylor (Goodreads Author) 3.94 avg rating — 17 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The Mission Song by John le Carré 3.47 avg rating — 7,558 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	The Translator: A Historical Romance Between an Exiled Russian Poet and His American Translator During the Cuban Missile Crisis by John Crowley 3.77 avg rating — 931 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Dark Secret (DARC Ops, #1) by Jamie Garrett (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 707 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Pachinko by Min Jin Lee 4.34 avg rating — 702,070 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	The Russian Interpreter by Michael Frayn 3.42 avg rating — 246 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	The Bad Girl by Mario Vargas Llosa 4.14 avg rating — 53,047 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Lucy & the Lieutenant (The Cedar River Cowboys #2) by Helen Lacey (Goodreads Author) 4.32 avg rating — 91 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	Faces in the Crowd by Valeria Luiselli 3.56 avg rating — 7,305 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	Dangerously HOT (Hostile Operations Team: Strike Team 1, #2) by Lynn Raye Harris (Goodreads Author) 4.33 avg rating — 2,659 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	The Translation of Love by Lynne Kutsukake 3.67 avg rating — 1,778 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Ways to Disappear by Idra Novey (Goodreads Author) 3.44 avg rating — 4,731 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Beloved Beast (The Ravenswood Chronicles, #2) by Karyn Gerrard (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 33 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	The Summer Before the Dark by Doris Lessing 3.60 avg rating — 3,028 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	The Literary Conference by César Aira 3.58 avg rating — 2,542 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	Crossing Hearts (Atlanta Skyline, #1) by Rebecca Crowley (Goodreads Author) 3.57 avg rating — 178 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	Mirror, Shoulder, Signal by Dorthe Nors 3.21 avg rating — 3,147 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	The Stages: A Novel by Thom Satterlee (Goodreads Author) 3.83 avg rating — 258 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Reckless Honor (HORNET, #5) by Tonya Burrows (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 620 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	In Her Sights (Away From Keyboard, #2) by Patricia D. Eddy (Goodreads Author) 4.42 avg rating — 728 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	So the Heart Can Dance (Hidden Beauty #2) by Mary Crawford (Goodreads Author) 4.47 avg rating — 146 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	The Price of Freedom (Hidden Beauty #7.5) by Mary Crawford (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 25 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	Senseless by Anna Lickley (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 21 ratings score: 85, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	Interpreter (Commander in Briefs #4) by Kristy Marie (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 1,811 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	About That Night (Matzah Ball Surprise #2) by Laura Brown (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 271 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	The Silent Suspect (Paige Northwood, #3) by Nell Pattison 3.68 avg rating — 843 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	Cowboys Don't Dance (Cowboy Strong #1) by Linda Style (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 247 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars