Esther Allen
@eallen.bsky.social
Translator, writer, CUNY prof, martiana. estherallen.com
Pinned
Esther Allen
@eallen.bsky.social
· Apr 23
Gulf of América | Los Angeles Review of Books
Esther Allen reviews Greg Grandin’s “America, América: A New History of the New World.”
lareviewofbooks.org
“Gulf of America,” my review of Greg Grandin’s extraordinary & indispensable new history is up on @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social
lareviewofbooks.org/article/gulf...
lareviewofbooks.org/article/gulf...
Reposted by Esther Allen
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Esther Allen
Seattle is using stencils when neighbors go missing
November 22, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Seattle is using stencils when neighbors go missing
Reposted by Esther Allen
I'm old enough to remember when "armed agents of the federal government raiding churches on Christmas" was not, in fact, a cornerstone of the Republican Party's agenda.
"Agencies within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including ICE, ERO, and CBP intend to implement a comprehensive plan to target Spanish-speaking churches across the country during the upcoming holiday season between Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, and Christmas, Dec. 25."
Exclusive: Trump DHS Plans Immigration Raids on Churches Over Holidays
The Trump Dept. of Homeland Security is briefing federal agencies on plans for immigration enforcement operations inside churches over holidays.
thisweekinworcester.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:32 PM
I'm old enough to remember when "armed agents of the federal government raiding churches on Christmas" was not, in fact, a cornerstone of the Republican Party's agenda.
Reposted by Esther Allen
In April 2009, the Washington Post asked 10 writers to make the case for something that deserves to be tossed out as part of "spring cleaning."
I chose Larry Summers.
Better late than never.
Unlocked version of my 16-year-old article below.
naomiklein.org/why-we-shoul...
I chose Larry Summers.
Better late than never.
Unlocked version of my 16-year-old article below.
naomiklein.org/why-we-shoul...
November 18, 2025 at 6:20 AM
In April 2009, the Washington Post asked 10 writers to make the case for something that deserves to be tossed out as part of "spring cleaning."
I chose Larry Summers.
Better late than never.
Unlocked version of my 16-year-old article below.
naomiklein.org/why-we-shoul...
I chose Larry Summers.
Better late than never.
Unlocked version of my 16-year-old article below.
naomiklein.org/why-we-shoul...
Reposted by Esther Allen
every author in the class action, please file the claim.
AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.
Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action
Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.
arstechnica.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:41 AM
every author in the class action, please file the claim.
Reposted by Esther Allen
Oh hey, I found the war on christmas
"Agencies within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including ICE, ERO, and CBP intend to implement a comprehensive plan to target Spanish-speaking churches across the country during the upcoming holiday season between Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, and Christmas, Dec. 25."
Exclusive: Trump DHS Plans Immigration Raids on Churches Over Holidays
The Trump Dept. of Homeland Security is briefing federal agencies on plans for immigration enforcement operations inside churches over holidays.
thisweekinworcester.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Oh hey, I found the war on christmas
Reposted by Esther Allen
"Agencies within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including ICE, ERO, and CBP intend to implement a comprehensive plan to target Spanish-speaking churches across the country during the upcoming holiday season between Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, and Christmas, Dec. 25."
Exclusive: Trump DHS Plans Immigration Raids on Churches Over Holidays
The Trump Dept. of Homeland Security is briefing federal agencies on plans for immigration enforcement operations inside churches over holidays.
thisweekinworcester.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:12 AM
"Agencies within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including ICE, ERO, and CBP intend to implement a comprehensive plan to target Spanish-speaking churches across the country during the upcoming holiday season between Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, and Christmas, Dec. 25."
Reposted by Esther Allen
ICYMI and want to read about Something Else for a minute: I wrote about the history and evolution of deaf representation for @pbs.org American Masters. You can stream their documentary "Not Alone Anymore" on Marlee Matlin for free on the site, including an ASL version 🤩. www.pbs.org/wnet/america...
How the portrayal of Deaf people in film has evolved over time | American Masters | PBS
March 30th, 1987—21-year-old Marlee Matlin, bespectacled and in a puff-sleeved purple gown, cautiously took the stage and changed the course of film
www.pbs.org
November 18, 2025 at 1:49 AM
ICYMI and want to read about Something Else for a minute: I wrote about the history and evolution of deaf representation for @pbs.org American Masters. You can stream their documentary "Not Alone Anymore" on Marlee Matlin for free on the site, including an ASL version 🤩. www.pbs.org/wnet/america...
Reposted by Esther Allen
I just learned of the death of Efraín Kristal, whose UCLA courses on Renaissance writing and, especially, on Borges showed me that serious scholarship need not deaden, but can in fact fortify one’s pure-hearted love of literature. As a translator, I found a credo in his work:
November 17, 2025 at 1:06 AM
I just learned of the death of Efraín Kristal, whose UCLA courses on Renaissance writing and, especially, on Borges showed me that serious scholarship need not deaden, but can in fact fortify one’s pure-hearted love of literature. As a translator, I found a credo in his work:
Reposted by Esther Allen
Unfortunately still true bsky.app/profile/adam...
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
November 10, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Unfortunately still true bsky.app/profile/adam...
Reposted by Esther Allen
She operates on another level.
A phenomenal woman.
A phenomenal woman.
November 10, 2025 at 5:51 PM
She operates on another level.
A phenomenal woman.
A phenomenal woman.
Reposted by Esther Allen
I helped make a film, out this week, called “Rovina’s Choice,” about the deaths this man without conscience or accountability has caused — already 600,000, ⅔ of them children.
November 6, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I helped make a film, out this week, called “Rovina’s Choice,” about the deaths this man without conscience or accountability has caused — already 600,000, ⅔ of them children.
Reposted by Esther Allen
My latest author newsletter is about a trip to Ireland to meet students recently evacuated from Gaza open.substack.com/pub/nancykri...
November 3, 2025 at 7:08 PM
My latest author newsletter is about a trip to Ireland to meet students recently evacuated from Gaza open.substack.com/pub/nancykri...
Reposted by Esther Allen
What an evening. Beyond grateful for what we made together.
Lecture available on line for 2 weeks.
Lecture available on line for 2 weeks.
Now listening to the 4th Annual Alchemy Lecture:
Sound—at the Interregnum.
First alchemist is Glen Coulthard, Yellowknives Dene, Prof. First Nations and Indigenous Studies and Political Science
listening: noisescapes of mining, air traffic and urban expansion on Yellowknife land
#YUAlchemy
Sound—at the Interregnum.
First alchemist is Glen Coulthard, Yellowknives Dene, Prof. First Nations and Indigenous Studies and Political Science
listening: noisescapes of mining, air traffic and urban expansion on Yellowknife land
#YUAlchemy
The 2025 Alchemy Lecture: Sound—at the Interregnum
YouTube video by York University - Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
www.youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:59 AM
What an evening. Beyond grateful for what we made together.
Lecture available on line for 2 weeks.
Lecture available on line for 2 weeks.
Reposted by Esther Allen
A nine year old brown boy living in NYC on 9/11 who grew up to love the city knows more about New York culture and New York values than this bitter, bilious husk of man riding his father’s coattails into his seventh decade could ever know
What an odious thing to say. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
October 29, 2025 at 6:56 PM
A nine year old brown boy living in NYC on 9/11 who grew up to love the city knows more about New York culture and New York values than this bitter, bilious husk of man riding his father’s coattails into his seventh decade could ever know
Reposted by Esther Allen
Start with his translation of Kadare’s The Siege, enjoy his biography of the French comic filmmaker Jacques Tati and go on to his magnificent account of the way Victor Hugo wrote Les Miserables, bringing the language of the Paris street onto the page for the first time.
October 29, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Start with his translation of Kadare’s The Siege, enjoy his biography of the French comic filmmaker Jacques Tati and go on to his magnificent account of the way Victor Hugo wrote Les Miserables, bringing the language of the Paris street onto the page for the first time.
Reposted by Esther Allen
In 2005, the inaugural year of that prize – which was then a biennial award for a body of work – his translations led the Albanian writer Ismail Kadare to become the first winner (they divided the prize money between them).
thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-l...
thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-l...
October 29, 2025 at 10:06 AM
In 2005, the inaugural year of that prize – which was then a biennial award for a body of work – his translations led the Albanian writer Ismail Kadare to become the first winner (they divided the prize money between them).
thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-l...
thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-l...
Reposted by Esther Allen
We're sad to hear of the death of David Bellos, a wonderfully witty writer, professor, translator and judge of the 2016 International Booker Prize.
October 29, 2025 at 10:06 AM
We're sad to hear of the death of David Bellos, a wonderfully witty writer, professor, translator and judge of the 2016 International Booker Prize.
Reposted by Esther Allen
Me comunican que ha fallecido David Bellos, primer biógrafo de Georges Perec y su traductor al inglés. Fue también quien encontró una copia de la novela 'El condotiero', que todos creían perdida.
October 28, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Me comunican que ha fallecido David Bellos, primer biógrafo de Georges Perec y su traductor al inglés. Fue también quien encontró una copia de la novela 'El condotiero', que todos creían perdida.
Reposted by Esther Allen
RIP to David Bellos, a great translator, teacher, scholar and popularizer. Here's a charming little essay about what he learned from his landmark translation of Georges Perec's 'Life: A User's Manual'. online.wsj.com/article/SB10...
October 27, 2025 at 4:38 PM
RIP to David Bellos, a great translator, teacher, scholar and popularizer. Here's a charming little essay about what he learned from his landmark translation of Georges Perec's 'Life: A User's Manual'. online.wsj.com/article/SB10...
Reposted by Esther Allen
I will always be grateful to David Bellos, especially for his outstanding translation of 'Life: A User's Manual' by Georges Perec, as well as for his biography, 'Georges Perec: A Life in Words'. In my opinion, it is one of the greatest biographies ever written.
RIP to a dear friend and eminent scholar, David Bellos.
October 27, 2025 at 7:55 PM
I will always be grateful to David Bellos, especially for his outstanding translation of 'Life: A User's Manual' by Georges Perec, as well as for his biography, 'Georges Perec: A Life in Words'. In my opinion, it is one of the greatest biographies ever written.
Reposted by Esther Allen
He was very brilliant and very dear. And we will miss him so much.
RIP to a dear friend and eminent scholar, David Bellos.
October 27, 2025 at 7:37 PM
He was very brilliant and very dear. And we will miss him so much.
Reposted by Esther Allen
RIP to David Bellos whose book Is That a Fish in Your Ear?: Translation and the Meaning of Everything massively contributed to me wanting to become a literary translator. When I was writing my own book about translation, I kept in mind how funny and accessible his book was.
October 27, 2025 at 4:23 PM
RIP to David Bellos whose book Is That a Fish in Your Ear?: Translation and the Meaning of Everything massively contributed to me wanting to become a literary translator. When I was writing my own book about translation, I kept in mind how funny and accessible his book was.
Reposted by Esther Allen
RIP to a dear friend and eminent scholar, David Bellos.
October 27, 2025 at 3:17 PM
RIP to a dear friend and eminent scholar, David Bellos.