Ali Smith

Ali Smith addresses the importance of literary translation.

Without the oxygen of literary translation, contemporary fiction and poetry will always run the risk of stagnation and a lingering decline.

Ali Smith considers language and literature as naturally international, and questions whether one of the world's most dominant languages ought to ignore the proliferation of life and lives that make up the global library.

Ali Smith is one of the most exciting, daring and engaged writers working today. Join her in a conversation exploring what is at stake for readers and writers if our connection to outstanding books from other languages is threatened.

The conversation is chaired by writer and translator Daniel Hahn and Ali Smith is joined on stage by writer and film maker Xiaolu Guo and translator Margaret Jull Costa.

Living Translation is part of a National Conversation led by Writers' Centre Norwich.