Hobbits and the Art of Book Translation

Imagine them there: ten people crammed into a small, stifling room somewhere in an Egyptian prison.

The days are long and disheartening, boredom is endless, and hope for release seems nowhere in sight. The ten captives try to pass the time with conversations and games, but the effort feels futile, and time drags on, nearly coming to a standstill. And then, something happens. One of them receives a package containing a book that changes everything.

These ten are the Israeli captives who fell into Egyptian hands during the 1970 War of Attrition and spent over three years in captivity. Unlike today’s hostages, who have been languishing for over a year in Hamas tunnels in Gaza, the captives in Egypt had some connection to the outside world. They received visits from the Red Cross and exchanged letters and packages with their families.

Four of the captives were pilots, and one day, one of them received a package from his brother in the United States. Inside was a book in English—a fantasy story about a remarkable creature who embarks on hair-raising adventures in an imaginary world. Since many of the captives didn’t understand English, the pilots decided to translate the book into Hebrew for their fellow prisoners—a good way to pass the time and escape from their harsh reality.

For many months, the four pilots painstakingly worked on translating the story with the help of dictionaries provided by the Egyptians. The task was challenging, as the story involved complex language, rhyme, and poetry. But it served as a refuge from their forced captivity, transporting them to a world of fantasy, where they lived through the experiences of Bilbo Baggins and the other characters in the book, sharing in their adventures as if they were truly there.

Upon their release, they had produced hundreds of handwritten pages of the translated book in Hebrew. The book was The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, and the pilots’ translation was published, becoming a bestseller and a source of inspiration for generations—a testament to the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.

Today, as The Lord of the Rings trilogy celebrates its 70th anniversary, it seems fitting to share this compelling story of these captive pilots and explore the art of book translation. Tolkien’s books are considered extremely difficult to translate due to their rich and poetic language and the unique terminology he created for his fictional world. This makes the pilots’ translation, completed under extreme conditions by non-professional translators, an extraordinary and moving accomplishment.

At Lichi Translations, while we haven’t translated The Lord of the Rings trilogy into Hebrew or any other language, we do specialize in book translation. When I meet new people, conversations often go like this:

“So, what do you do?”

“I run a translation agency.”

“Oh, wow, that’s great! So, do you translate books?”

“Yes, we do!”

Book translation is a unique discipline within our field, reserved for specialists in this area. At Lichi, we translate books into various languages, as detailed in our portfolio.

For those interested in having their book translated into a foreign language, here are some essential guidelines:

First, Choose the Right Translator

Book translation requires a specialist with deep understanding of writing, someone who can capture and accurately convey the author’s unique style. The translator must navigate cultural contexts and linguistic nuances, as the source language’s culture may differ significantly from the target language. Elements that resonate in one language might need careful adaptation in another.

Before beginning a project, we recommend conducting translator “auditions.” We ask several candidates to provide sample translations, which we review with other language specialists and the client to select the best fit for the project.

Professional Editing is Essential

While some clients—particularly authors fluent in the target language—prefer editing the translations themselves, we generally recommend working with a professional editor. A skilled editor reviews the entire text, refining and polishing it to achieve the highest quality.

International Distribution

To distribute your translated book internationally, you need to partner with a literary agent who can connect with publishers in your target markets. This process requires patience and careful negotiation, but when successful, it can bring your book to readers worldwide, both in physical and digital formats.

For deeper insights into the benefits of having a book translated into other languages, we invite you to listen to our podcast featuring Prof. Dan Ariely:

At Lichi Translations, we honor those skilled translators who can capture a literary work’s spirit and convey it in another language while preserving its essence and style.

If you have a dream of sharing your story worldwide, we’d be honored to provide the professional, high-quality translation your work deserves.

And of course, we join in hoping for the swift and safe return of all hostages currently held in Gaza.

Reach out today for a consultation or pass along our info to someone who might be looking. We’re here to support your work every step of the way.

פוסט זה זמין גם ב: Hebrew