Medal for Excellence in Translation

Medal for Excellence in Translation
Awarded forEnglish-language literary translation
Sponsored byAustralian Academy of the Humanities
Websitehumanities.org.au/grants-and-awards/medal-for-excellence-in-translation/

The Medal for Excellence in Translation is a biannual literary award presented by the Australian Academy of the Humanities "for a book-length translation into English of a work of any genre (including scholarship), from any language and period"[1] by an Australian or permanent resident.

Winners

Medal for Excellence in Translation recipients
Year Translator Work Result Ref.
2016 John Minford I Ching: The Book of Change Winner [2][3]
Stuart Robson The Old Javanese Rāmāyana: A New English Translation with an Introduction and Notes Shortlist [4]
Phoebe Weston-Evans Paris Nocturne, by Patrick Modiano Shortlist [4]
2018 Julie Rose Simon Leys: Navigator Between Worlds, by Philippe Paquet Winner [5]
David Holm Hanvueng: The Goose King and the Ancestral King, An Epic from Guangxi in Southern China Shortlist [6]
Geoff Wilkes The Greater Hope, by Ilse Aichinger Shortlist [6]
2020 Penny Hueston Being Here: The Life of Paula Modersohn-Becker, by Marie Darrieussecq Winner [7][8]
Paul Gibbard The Dream, by Émile Zola Shortlist [8]
Omid Tofighian No Friend But the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prison, by Behrouz Boochani Shortlist [8]
2022 Robert Savage Maria Theresa: The Habsburg Empress in Her Time, by Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger Winner [9]
Alex Skovron and Josef Tomáš Elegies, by Jiří Orten Shortlist [10]
McComas Taylor The Viṣṇu Purāṇa: Ancient Annals of the God with Lotus Eyes Shortlist [10]
2024 Stephanie Smee On the Line: Notes from a Factory, by Joseph Ponthus Winner [11]
Josh Stenberg For a Splendid Sunny Apocalypse, by Jiang Tao Shortlist [9]
Kevin Windle and Elena Govor Voices in the Wilderness: A Digest of the Russian-language Press in Australia 1912–1919 Shortlist [9]

References

  1. ^ "Medal for Excellence in Translation – AAH". Chinese Studies Association of Australia. 4 July 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  2. ^ "Minford wins inaugural Medal for Excellence in Translation". Books+Publishing. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Award for Translating Change". China Heritage. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  4. ^ a b "Inaugural Excellence in Translation medal shortlist announced". Books+Publishing. 26 September 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  5. ^ Lewis, Elaine. "Translator Julie Rose wins the '2018 Australian Academy of the Humanities Medal for Excellence in Translation'" (PDF). pp. 90–94. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Excellence in translation medal". Australian Academy of the Humanities. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  7. ^ "Announcing the winner of the 2020 Medal for Excellence in Translation". TagTeam. Harvard University. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  8. ^ a b c "Hueston awarded 2020 Medal for Excellence in Translation". Books+Publishing. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  9. ^ a b c "Medal for Excellence in Translation shortlist announced". Books+Publishing. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  10. ^ a b Tutton, Samantha (8 September 2022). "2022 Medal for Excellence in Translation shortlist". Australian Academy of the Humanities. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  11. ^ Pressler, Abra (30 September 2024). "Smee receives 2024 Medal for Excellence in Translation". Australian Academy of the Humanities. Retrieved 1 January 2026.