Translators of Faroese Literature

Farlit has been promoting Faroese literature on the international stage since 2011. And since 2014, they have been coordinating grants for publishers interested in translating selected Faroese works into Nordic languages. Numerous translations of Faroese works into Nordic languages are available, however, translations into English are still underrepresented.

What follows is a list of translators that have translated Faroese literature into English. This list will continue to expand as translators come to my attention, and as Faroese literature continues to be promoted and new and inspired writers take on the task of translation:

• Heðin Bronn translated a collection of Faroese short stories, which included works from the Faroese language by Heðin Brú and Karstyn Hoydal, and from the Danish language by William Heinesen. This was the first anthology of short Faroese literature.
• George Johnston is perhaps one of the greatest translators of Faroese literature into the English. He translated the anthology of Faroese Poetry, "Rocky Shores", which included poetry from Christian Matras, William Heinesen (from Danish), and Karstyn Hoydal, among others. This is the only anthology of Faroese poetry available. Johnston translated a small collection of Christian Matras short poems in a bilingual edition titled "Seeing and Remembering", the only bilingual poem collection available. Johnston also translated Jørgan Frantz Jacobsen's Barbara. 
• Glyn Jones has translated works by William Heinesen.
• Matthew Landrum has recently translated short stories by Sólrún Michelsen and poetry by Agnar Artúvertin. His poems have also been translated into Faroese.
• Annfinnur í Skála is the author of both the Faroese-English and English-Faroese dictionaries. 
• Reginald Spink, best known for translating Hans Christian Andersen, translated a small pamphlet with a short essay by Jørgan Frantz Jacobsen and a brief description of the Faroe Islands for travellers (1965).
• Marjun Stewart translated "Under Southern Stars" by Gunnar Hoydal. 
• Marita Thomsen has recently translated two children's books by Bárður Oskarsson.
• Randi Ward has recently translated Faroese poems for "Words Without Borders", a magazine celebrating and promoting international literature. Translations include works by both established and emerging poets.
• John F. West is best known for his translation of Heðin Brú's "The Old Man and His Sons". This is the only Faroese language novel set in the Faroe Islands that we have available today. 
• Vencil, the Faroese literary magazine, published a special English-language edition in 2011. Numerous translators are likely to be present (hopefully I can get my hands on a copy!)

I look forward to seeing the emergence of contemporary translators such as Matthew Landrum, Marita Thomsen, Marjun Stewart and Randi Ward. These translators will bring English speaking readers a little bit closer to the current Faroese literary scene.