GT Owen Translations Welcome to my website Email:gtowen41@gmail.com
About me
From time to time, over many years, I have made translations into English of books and stories which, in one way or another, have interested me or have had a personal resonance. Some have been translated many times over by other hands but some have never been translated. I offer a selection of them below; just click on any title which interests you.
FromDutch
Arie Kuijl
A fascinating day-by-day account of life in a Japanese prisoner of war camp in Sumatra 1942-5. Of special interest to me because my father was one of the prisoners.
FromGerman
Theodor Storm
One of Storm's best loved short stories, a poignant love affair recalled in old age.
Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf
The composer Ditters von Dittersdorf (1739-99) dictated these memoirs to his son on his deathbed. It is a fascinating account of musical life, and much more besides, during the latter half of the 18th century.
FromRussian
Anton Chekhov
An acutely observed study in self-deception leading to self-knowledge.
Boris Pilnyak
An account by Boris Pilnyak (1894-1938) of a visit to Sevastopol in the Crimea during which he took part in salvaging the gold thought to be aboard the British warship Black Prince, sunk in a storm during the Crimean War 1853-6.
FromPolish
Lech Bazylczuk
Dr Bazylczuk is a retired Polish surgeon who writes short stories full of wry humour based on his social and professional life. This is a small selection.