Bruna Dantas Lobato is a fiction writer and translator of Brazilian literature. Her translation of The Words That Remain by Stênio Gardel won the 2023 National Book Award for Translated Literature.[1][2] Her translation of The Dark Side of Skin by Jeferson Tenório won an English PEN Translates Award,[3] and her translation of Moldy Strawberries by Caio Fernando Abreu was longlisted for the PEN Translation Prize and the Republic of Consciousness Prize.[4][5]
Bruna Dantas Lobato | |
|---|---|
 Bruna Dantas Lobato in 2023 | |
| Born | c. 1991 Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil |
| Occupation | Writer, translator |
| Education | |
| Notable awards | National Book Award |
| Website | |
| www | |
Her first novel, Blue Light Hours, was published in 2024 by Grove Atlantic to critical acclaim and will be translated into several languages.[6][7][8][9][10] Her stories have been published in The New Yorker, Guernica, A Public Space, and The Common.[11][12][13][14]
Early life and education
editDantas Lobato was born in Natal, in the Northeast of Brazil.[15] As a high school student, she was selected to the United States Department of State and U.S. Embassy in Brazil exchange program Youth Ambassadors,[16][17] which first brought her to the United States to study U.S. politics and youth leadership. As a Youth Ambassador to Brazil, Dantas Lobato visited the White House, where she met Michelle Obama.[18][19]
She was an avid reader from a young age and took her first creative writing class as a scholarship student at Phillips Exeter Academy. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University, an MFA in Literary Translation from the University of Iowa, and a BA in Literature from Bennington College.[20][21]
Life and work
editIn addition to translating Brazilian literature into English, Dantas Lobato an advocate for translators translating out of their heritage languages and has led panels on the topic.[11][12][22]
Dantas Lobato currently serves on the board of directors of the American Literary Translators Association.[13] She is an Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing at Grinnell College.[23]
Honors
edit- 2019: Winner of PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grant for Moldy Strawberries by Caio Fernando Abreu[14]
- 2022: Longlisted for Republic of Consciousness Prize for Moldy Strawberries by Caio Fernando Abreu[5]
- 2023: Longlisted for PEN Translation Prize for Moldy Strawberries by Caio Fernando Abreu.[4]
- 2023: Winner of English PEN Translates Award for The Dark Side of Skin by Jeferson Tenório[3]
- 2023: Winner of National Book Award for Translated Literature for The Words That Remain by Stênio Gardel[1]
- 2024: Longlisted for International Dublin Literary Award for The Words That Remain by Stênio Gardel[15]
Publications
editFiction
edit- Blue Light Hours (Grove Atlantic, 2024)
- "Snowstorm" (The New Yorker, 2022)
- "Reunion" (Guernica, 2022)
- "Diversions" (A Public Space, 2018)
- "Firsthand Account" (The Common, 2017)
Translations
edit- Moldy Strawberries by Caio Fernando Abreu (Archipelago Books, 2022)
- The Words that Remain by Stênio Gardel (New Vessel Press, 2023)
- The Collector of Heads by Ana Matsusaki (Tapioca Stories, 2023)
- The Dark Side of Skin by Jeferson Tenório (Charco Press, 2024)
- The Suite Tokyo by Giovana Madalosso (Europa Editions, 2024)
- Puta by Amara Moira (Feminist Press, 2025)
- No Point in Dying by Francisco Maciel (New Vessel Press, 2025)
- No Dragons in Paradise by Caio Fernando Abreu (Archipelago Books, 2025)
- Niterói Lights by Marcello Quintanilha (Fantagraphics, 2026)
References
edit- ^ a b "The Words That Remain". National Book Foundation. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ^ Harris, Elizabeth A.; Alter, Alexandra (2023-11-16). "Justin Torres, Author of 'Blackouts,' Wins National Book Award for Fiction". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ^ a b "PEN Translates winners announced". English Pen. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ^ a b "Announcing the 2023 PEN America Literary Awards Longlists –". PEN America. 2023-01-20. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ^ a b "Our 2022 Longlist!". Republic of Consciousness Prize. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ^ "About". Bruna Dantas Lobato. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ "Blue Light Hours". Bruna Dantas Lobato. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
- ^ "Blue Light Hours". Kirkus Reviews.
- ^ "Blue Light Hours by Bruna Dantas Lobato". www.publishersweekly.com. July 22, 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ McGee, Celia (2024-07-31). "They Translated the Books of Others. Now They're Writing Their Own". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
- ^ a b "'Building Something Together': Translators Discuss Their Art". The New York Times. 2023-06-28. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ^ a b "Translators on the Art of Translating". KQED. 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ^ a b "Board of Directors | The American Literary Translators Association". literarytranslators.org. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ^ a b "2019 PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants". PEN America. 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ^ a b Becker, Eric (2023-10-03). "The National Book Award Interviews: Bruna Dantas Lobato and Stênio Gardel". Words Without Borders. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ^ Brazil, U. S. Mission (2023-06-30). "Applications open for the 2024 Youth Ambassadors program". U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Brazil. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ^ Brazil, U. S. Mission (2013-12-11). "Youth Ambassadors Personal Blogs". U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Brazil. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ^ "Embaixada dos EUA lança projeto Jovens Embaixadores". Estadão (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ^ Brasilia, U. S. Embassy (2010-01-13), Primeira-Dama dos EUA Recebe Jovens Embaixadores Brasileiros / First Lady Michelle Obama Welcomes Brazilian, retrieved 2023-11-23
- ^ "Bruna Dantas Lobato". Bruna Dantas Lobato. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ^ "Bruna Dantas Lobato | Bennington College". www.bennington.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ^ "Motherless Tongues, Multiple Belongings I". HowlRound Theatre Commons. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ^ "dantasbru | Grinnell College". www.grinnell.edu. Retrieved 2024-08-31.