Learn Danish with Paul

17/07/2026

Please support Foreign Affairs' fundraising appeal to help secure the future of their amazing theatre translator mentorship programme! https://bit.ly/SupportFATT

Foreign Affairs theatre company has been mentoring theatre translators for more than a decade. And before that, they helped me launch my literary translation career, presenting my very first translation to the world. I am forever grateful for the life-changing experience and hope they can offer the same opportunity to many more!

Foreign Affairs is an international theatre company staging plays in translation and championing cross-cultural collaboration. They were recently rewarded for their outstanding work, winning The Stage International Award 2026.

11/07/2026

And that's a wrap! Danish teaching has officially rounded off for the summer, but fear not, I've put together a schedule for next year's Learn Danish with Paul lessons!

In the meantime, why not sign up to my newsletter for monthly updates on upcoming Danish lessons, as well as tips and insights into Danish language and culture: https://buff.ly/tmXh5x9





📸 Anita Staff

09/07/2026

This week, Translators Aloud is presenting readings by members of DELT, the association of Danish-English Literary Translators, so I recorded a short video of my translation of Continuum by author Søren Lind: https://buff.ly/jrnHDIn

Continuum is a futuristic novel that plays out in an artificial afterlife. Game designer Andreas Holm is the first inhabitant of the System, which he also helped create. While his body lies frozen in a cryochamber in a bunker in central Jutland, his avatar jumps around between the cities and backwaters of the System. He moves among unconscious inhabitants, while he sees his life’s work slowly take shape in advance of the commercial launch. But there is chaos in the chronology. Andreas cannot make sense of either the past of the present. He has memories of events that are yet to happen and receives advance warning of events he experienced long ago.

Continuum is a philosophical work that deals with grief, loss and memory in a futuristic parallel reality.

07/07/2026

05/07/2026

My copy of last summer's translation project just arrived – a super interesting book on how to activate GLP-1, the body's natural weight-loss hormone.

Danish author Anette Sams, former director of the pharmaceutical company behind Wegovy and Ozempic, gives a straightforward account of the processes involved, along with tips and advice on what foods can help people find the freedom to take charge of their health in a natural and sustainable way.

30/06/2026

Out of the Wings returns for its annual festival of Ibero-American playwriting from 14-18 July, with readings of plays from five countries in English translation for the first time at Omnibus Theatre in Clapham.

Check out their full programme, including a free theatre translation workshop! https://buff.ly/xryKFEM

27/06/2026

Summer is officially upon us, which means it's time for Fitzcarraldo's summer reading sale!

As well as four Nobel Prize winners, Fitzcarraldo Editions have also published novels by Danish author Christina Hesselholdt, two of the most enjoyable and complex works I've ever translated.

Use the code ‘SUMMER30’ before 4 July to get a thirty percent discount.
https://buff.ly/oEkPgjH

25/06/2026

It's deadline week, and as I review my translation one last time, I'm thinking back on my trip to Norway earlier this month. Obviously it's easy to do research online these days, but it's great to see the places I'm describing in person to get a fuller understanding of them.

And the evening light in June is amazing!!

18/06/2026

This week my students have been listening to a recently compiled top-100 list of songs as voted for by Danes. This surprisingly eclectic mix of music could be a great way to gain some insight into the people and culture of Denmark.

Among the favourites were:
Kys det nu by TV-2
7 Years by Lukas Graham
Smuk som et stjerneskud, or Fly on the Wings of Love, by the Olsen Brothers.

You can find your favourite here: https://buff.ly/0M4wIVb





Image from dr.dk

15/06/2026

During my recent Norwegian travels, I attended the Norwegian Literature Festival in Lillehammer, where I met colleagues translating into Turkish, Finnish, Italian, Spanish, Serbian, Slovakian, German, Lithuanian, English and Norwegian, phew!

We had a great time discovering new books together, talking about shared authors and taking shelter from the Norwegian weather. Amazing to be part of such a supportive international translator community!

All wonderfully arranged and orchestrated by NORLA, (Norwegian Literature Abroad) tusen takk!