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Katy Derbyshire

@katyderbyshire.bsky.social

1.8K followers 1.8K following 610 posts

Literary translator from German to English, occasional publisher, Berlin lover, appreciator of wallets on chains. She/her. Photo © Nane Diehl

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Reposted by Katy Derbyshire

OMAS GEGEN RECHTS Hamburg @omashamburg.bsky.social · 7h

In unserem Stadtbild ist alles in Ordnung. Das Problem liegt in Ihrem Weltbild, Herr #Merz

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Reposted by Katy Derbyshire

scott manley hadley @scottmanleyhadley.bsky.social · 5d

Read an incredible, hefty, brief novel about loss in all its kinds - loss of self, of hope, of love, of life... Every Time We Say Goodbye by Ivana Sajko: triumphofthenow.com/2025/10/10/e...

Every Time We Say Goodbye by Ivana Sajko

perfect, glorious, flawless. i should only read 100 page bleak novellas

triumphofthenow.com

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Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 2d

Looking forward to hosting tomorrow in Berlin

V&Q Books @vqbooks.bsky.social · 2d

Tomorrow, kids!

A rusty ship sinking, on the cover of Ivana Sajko's novel EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE, translated by Mima Simić. The writing says: Launching Ivana Sajko's Every Time We Say Goodbye / 14 October, 7 pm / DAAD Galerie / Oranienstr. 161 / Berlin

Writer Ivana Sajko (white, long dark hair, smiling in a flowery shirt) and translator Mima Simić (white, short greying hair, enigmatic sideways glance in a black T-shirt)

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Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 5d

I see.

Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 5d

Plus, who says anyone will watch the stupid fake teachers?

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Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 5d

Being a translator is great. I made this description exist in English:

“a multiply married Muslim on the lookout for a buxom Saxon to add to his harem”

It’s a rumour spread by locals in an East German town about a newly arrived stranger, in Clemens Meyer’s The Projectionists. #amtranslating

Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 5d

(Don‘t laugh, because poor guy, but:) AI killed the market for what he was previously doing.

Reposted by Katy Derbyshire

Jen Calleja @jencalleja.bsky.social · 6d

Annual reminder that without literary translators, most Nobel Prize-winning authors couldn’t be read by the committee/readers, so celebrate them too. Congrats @ottiliemulzet.bsky.social et al! This isn’t taking away from the author, it’s adding recognition of the miracle/labour/skill of translation.

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 6d

Nobel prize in literature 2025 live: Hungarian novelist László Krasznahorkai wins

Nobel prize in literature 2025 live: László Krasznahorkai wins

Follow along as the next winner of the world’s most prestigious literature prize is announced in Stockholm

www.theguardian.com

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Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 6d

Oooooh, @ottiliemulzet.bsky.social !

Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 6d

Please keep putting in the effort, if you can stand it!

Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 6d

Wow

Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 6d

Dishwashing.

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Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 6d

I mean, usually that’s not a good thing. But in this case, I don’t want this low-effort dude as my colleague.

Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 6d

I wish I had that confidence. Luckily, it’s really fucking hard to get into literary translation.

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Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 6d

Sorry to use you as a dumping ground, but I just talked to a guy who’s thinking about getting into literary translation by “using software” and post-editing. Because it would be too time consuming the long way. He was also unimpressed by my suggestion that good translation takes practice.

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Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 7d

Ja, ich wahrscheinlich auch.

Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 8d

*Breuninger. Gibt’s nicht in Berlin = kenn ich nöscht. But I’ve been waiting for people to take the piss and I guess everyone got mature now (or no one cares).

Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 8d

Kaufhaus, das ich nach 29 Jahre Berlin nicht kenne,* macht Werbung mit Schriftsteller:innen! Die meisten kommen aus der Schweiz. Ich bin so verwirrt. Writers are cool now? Writers wear expensive clothes? Writers are stylish? No offence, but these have not been my observations.

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Reposted by Katy Derbyshire

Michael Albert @michlalbrt.bsky.social · 9d

Seit Mai 2025 werden auf Weisung von Alexander Dobrindt an der deutschen Grenze Asylsuchende (widerrechtlich) zurückgewiesen.

Habt ihr auch schon bemerkt, wie dadurch die Wirtschaft aufblüht, wie Lebensmittel, Mieten und Strom wieder bezahlbar werden und ihr mehr Geld in der Tasche habt?

Eben.

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Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 11d

Ugh!

Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 13d

Not really, beyond Initiative Urheberrecht, who are good. I do know class action lawsuits aren’t possible here, so maybe it’s a way to go to court.

Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 15d

Pragmatically, I’d just call it a jacket, since what we wear in winter is coats.

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Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 15d

😱

Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 15d

As my mum would say: What are you all going to wear once it gets cold? #BerlinSeptember

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Katy Derbyshire @katyderbyshire.bsky.social · 18d

Terrifying