Translation Salon: Kafkaesque (In person)
The London Library contains books in, on and translated from a whole world of languages. To celebrate the incredible scope of that collection, we are delighted to introduce our new Translation Salon, which will explore multiple perspectives and ideas around language and the intricate art of translation.
For our inaugural salon, host, translator and translation expert Daniel Hahn will be joined by Maïa Hruska, author of a new book, Kafkaesque, which tells the story of the translators who saved the work of Franz Kafka from oblivion.
For years after his early death, Kafka existed almost entirely through the wildly different readings of his words by his early translators, many of whom would later be counted amongst the greatest thinkers and writers of all time. Primo Levi translated Kafka into Italian from the German he had learned in Auschwitz; Milena Jesenská lovingly into Czech before being deported; Bruno Schulz into Polish before being shot by an SS officer; and Jorge Luis Borges into Spanish as he slowly went blind in Buenos Aires. His French translator found new humour hidden inside Kafka’s work, while his Russian translators were condemned to perpetual anonymity by the Soviet censor.
Come along and join the conversation about this fascinating history of Kafka’s work, the act of translation and some of the greatest minds, tragedies and absurdities of the twentieth century.
In partnership with the Jewish Literary Foundation.
Maïa Hruska was born to a Czech-French family, raised in Germany and now lives in London, working as a lawyer, like Kafka. A graduate of University of Cambridge and Kings College London, Hruska is fluent in Czech, French, German, and English. Kafkaesque is her first book.
Daniel Hahn is a writer, editor and translator. Books published in 2026 include If This Be Magic: the unlikely art of Shakespeare in translation, and translations of fiction from Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Guatemala, Brazil and Chile. He is currently translating an Angolan novel and co-editing (with Padma Viswanathan) The Penguin Book of Brazilian Short Stories.
The Jewish Literary Foundation (JLF) presents the best in contemporary Jewish literature and ideas. From its flagship annual festival Jewish Book Week, to its free JLF Player streaming platform, creative opportunities and live cultural experiences, the JLF connects, inspires and entertains year-round. For events, creative opportunities, new video releases and more, sign up to their newsletter.
Our events programme is presented in partnership with Hakluyt & Company, the global strategic advisory firm for businesses and investors.
Books by the speakers will be available to buy at the event and online from our partner bookshop Hatchards.
NB This event will take place in person in the New Room at The London Library. Doors and the bar will open at 6.30pm, the talk will run from 7-8pm and the bar will stay open until 8.30pm. Please see our Event Access Guidelines before you arrive.
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