Success in Literary Translation

Trinity's award-winning MPhil in Literary Translation is the only master's degree on the island that specialises in the translation of literature (broadly conceived). The degree has been running since 2004 and has since gained a reputation for quality and rigour. Today, the course attracts around twenty students each year, many of whom are keen to pursue careers as professional literary translators.

But breaking into the industry is not easy. Many new graduates struggle to get their foot onto the first rung of the literary translation ladder. In this event, we invite two of our graduates to speak about their experiences of making their way in the professional world of literary translation after completing the master's degree. 

In our conversation, we will discuss each of our speakers' journeys, the kinds of challenges they faced, and what the they have learnt along the way.

This event is free and open to anyone.

Jeffrey K. Butt is a translator residing in St. John’s, Canada. Jeffrey completed the MPhil in Literary Translation at Trinity in 2020. He also has undergraduate and graduate degrees in French. Jeffrey has translated over a dozen documentary books and graphic novels for children covering a vast range of topics, from trees, food and insects to healthy eyes and teeth, the Big Bang, financial literacy and the depiction of dogs in art. Jeffrey is also a published translator of poetry and is the author of an illustrated children’s book entitled The Magic of Sleep: Your Dreams, Your Bed, Your Body and Your Brain (Helvetiq, 2025). A retired civil servant, Jeffrey enjoys travelling and tending to his garden when he is not translating or training in Taekwon-Do, in which he holds a 5th degree Black Belt. Jeffrey is a full member of the Literary Translators’ Association of Canada.

Gaia Baldassarri is a translator working between Italian and English. She lives in Ireland and completed the MPhil in Literary Translation at Trinity College Dublin in 2022. Alongside translation, she works in various creative and publishing-related roles. She is the translator of Christine Anne Foley and Ithell Colquhoun's works into Italian.