Summary: What is the role of an editor in a work of translation? Often translators feel a responsibility to the original text that precludes strong editorial intervention, but perhaps the editorial culture of the author’s original country of publication doesn’t really allow for an editor to have a say in improving the book. If an editor who doesn’t know the original language invites a second translator as an external editor, this can create further tension. If more international literature is to move from the realm of small and university presses to the major commercial publishers, this situation needs to be addressed. This panel featured Chad Post, Editor/Publisher, Open Letter Books; Marek Krajewski, Author, Mary Ann Caws, Distinguished Professor of Comparative Literature, English, and French, CUNY Graduate Center; Susan Bernofsky, Director of Literary Translation, School of the Arts, Columbia University; and Victoria Wilson, Editor, Alfred A. Knopf. This event was moderated by David A. Goldfarb, Curator of Literature and Humanities, Polish Cultural Institute New York. This event was organized by the Polish Cultural Institute New York.
