Translator in the spotlight: Andry Arro

FarLit is pleased to introduce our new Translator in the spotlight-series which we we are kickstarting with Estonian translator and publisher Andry Arro.

We asked Andry to answer a few questions about himself:

Who are you?

I am a translator and publisher from Estonia. I have always kept an eye on Scandinavian culture and as one thing led to another, I discovered Faroese literature. Since there was nobody in Estonia able to translate these books, I had to start learning the language. I also publish children’s books translated from other Scandinavian languages and organize the visits of Faroese authors to Estonia.

What have you translated?

I have translated eight Faroese children’s books and published them under my publishing house Nordur. Soon two other translations will be published – this time translations of poetry collections by Vónbjørt Vang and Kim Simonsen. And I am already working on the next books ...

Why do you love Faroese literature?

One thing I admire about Faroese literature is the fact that despite the small number of people, there are so many excellent writers in every possible genre. It’s almost unbelievable. This brings me to the other thing I really like and that is the compactness – it is possible to grasp the whole scene. And of course, the islands themselves are out of this world.

Provide a short translated excerpt of your choosing.

I have chosen the first page of the first book I translated from Faroese – “Flata kaninin” (“The Flat Rabbit”) by Bárður Oskarsson (published in Estonia in 2023 as “Lapik küülik”).

„Heldeke! Vaata õige teda seal!“ hüüatas rott, kui küülikut silmas.

„Hmm ... jah, ma siin mõtlesingi, et mida ta seal õige teeb,“ vastas koer üllatunult.

Enne kui rott välja ilmus, oli kõik olnud nii rahulik. „Ta on ju täiesti lapik,“ ütles rott ja vaatas lapikut küülikut lähemalt.