Geoffrey C. Howes

Literary Translator

German to English

Specializing in Austrian Literature

About the Translator

Geoffrey C. Howes has published four books translated from German to English:

"The title notwithstanding, the novellas in Three Women tell the stories of three men. The three women are seen from the distinctly masculine perspectives of the three male protagonists, and they have the literary role of catalysts for the men’s experiences, as the separate worlds the men and women inhabit intersect in sexual association. Besides gender roles, other differences confront each other as well: educated middle class versus petite bourgeoisie; German versus Czech; northern Europe versus southern Europe; adventure versus domesticity; and modernity versus pre-modernity."

—From the translator’s foreword

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Rosei’s Vienna is not at all the black and white Expressionist-like world of Carol Reed’s film, The Third Man, a world reminding everyone—characters and viewers both—of that great city’s monstrous acts and the culture’s fall from grace. Instead, Rosei’s figures—caught up in a society of avoidance—pick up existence as if the War had not occurred, attempting to ignore or outrun their terrible past in a rush for money and success.

—Douglas Messerli in EXPLORINGfictions

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The book is very funny and sprawling. The ethos of improvisation is most noticeable in Laederach’s pastichework. Different styles and references are co-opted and incorporated as a sort of self-analysis. ... The novel seeps deadpan. And translator Geoffrey Howes does a great job catching its talky aspect, this very reminiscent of Renata Adler’s Pitch Dark.

—Joseph Houlihan in HTML GIANT

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Howes’s translation of the sometimes difficult and arcane texts of Peter Rosei is elegant. He deftly replicates the poetic language that characterizes even the prose selections of this volume and reveals a gift for nuance and plasticity of meaning and entendre. Ruthless is ... a trove of wonderful short writings, including short stories, poetry, aphorisms from the Philosophical Notebook, and an excerpt from the novel Persona.

—Rebecca Thomas in Modern Austrian Literature

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He is also co-translator with Elfriede Czurda of Rosmarie Waldrop, Ins Abstrakte treiben (Vienna: Edition Korrespondenzen, 2015).

He has published numerous shorter translations, including texts by Dieter Sperl, Doron Rabinovici, Jürg Laederach, Lilian Faschinger, Susanne Ayoub, Franzobel, Evelyn Schlag, Walter Grond, Margret Kreidl, Lucas Cejpek, Gabriele Petricek, Erich Wolfgang Skwara, and Gerhard Kofler, in periodicals, anthologies, web sites, and catalogues, including Dimension2, The Review of Contemporary Fiction, Feribord, and Borderlands.

He is an associate editor with the online journal No Man’s Land: New German Literature in English Translation.

Professor emeritus of German at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, Howes has also published over thirty scholarly articles on topics in Austrian literature and culture and was co-editor, with Jacqueline Vansant, of Modern Austrian Literature from 2000-2005.

Bibliography

Translated Books

Gabriele Petricek, From the Skies. A Triptych (Von den Himmeln. Triptychon). Forthcoming. Stockholm: Writers Read Writers, 2018.
Gudrun Lerchbaum, Land of Lies. A novel. (Lügenland. Roman). Forthcoming. Spartanburg, SC: Weyward Sisters, 2018.
Rosmarie Waldrop, Ins Abstrakte treiben (Driven to Abstraction). Amerikanisch/Deutsch. Translated by Elfriede Czurda and Geoff Howes. Vienna: Edition Korrespondenzen, 2015.
Robert Musil, Three Women (Drei Frauen). Copenhagen and Los Angeles: Green Integer Press, 2014. (e-book and paperback)
Jürg Laederach, The Whole of Life (Das ganze Leben). A novel. Champaign, London, Dublin: Dalkey Archive Press, 2014. (Kindle and paperback)
Peter Rosei, Metropolis Vienna (Wien Metropolis). A Novel. Copenhagen and Los Angeles: Green Integer Press, 2009.
Peter Rosei, Ruthless and Other Writings. Translated and with an afterword by Geoffrey Howes. Riverside, CA: Ariadne Press, 2003.

Translations in Journals and Collections and on Web Sites

Klaus Zeyringer and Stefan Gmünder, "Privatized Profits, Socialized Losses: How Commerce and Corruption are Destroying Football." Versopolis: European Review of Poetry, Books and Culture (Ljubljana, Slovenia). http://www.versopolis.com/long-read/629/privatized-profits-socialized-losses (2018)
Martin Amanshauser, "China. Short short story." Versopolis: European Review of Poetry, Books and Culture (Ljubljana, Slovenia). http://www.versopolis.com/panorama/627/china (2018)
In Lichtungen. Zeitschrift für Literatur, Kunst und Zeitkritik. Kulturamt der Stadt Graz. 39 (153, 2018):
- Gabriele Petricek and Margarete Lamb-Faffelberger, "On Crossings over Borders Openings to Passages to an Austrian-American Literary Symposium in the USA," 68-73.
- Gabriele Petricek, "I is elsewhere," 77.
- Udo Kawasser, "trailers": "the work of the butterflies," 81; "desert storm," 83.
- Mascha Dabić, "My Borders," 86-88.
- Dimitré Dinev, "Water" (A novel. An excerpt), 91-92.
- Hanno Millesi, "The Butterfly Drive." (Excerpt from the novel Der Schmetterlingstrieb, 2016), 96.
Doron Rabinovici, "The Failure of Heimat." Versopolis: European Review of Poetry, Books and Culture (Ljubljana, Slovenia). http://www.versopolis.com/long-read/626/the-failure-of-heimat (2018)
Robert Menasse, "Enlightenment as a Harmonious Strategy." Versopolis: Versopolis: European Review of Poetry, Books and Culture (Ljubljana, Slovenia). http://www.versopolis.com/long-read/587/enlightenment-as-a-harmonious-strategy (2018)
Martin Amanshauser, "Slovenia / Yugoslavia. The Young Nurse from the Future." Versopolis: Versopolis: European Review of Poetry, Books and Culture (Ljubljana, Slovenia). http://www.versopolis.com/panorama/574/slovenia-yugoslavia (2018).
Clemens Berger, "The Golden Shoe." Versopolis: European Review of Poetry, Books and Culture (Ljubjana, Slovenia). http://www.versopolis.com/panorama/570/the-golden-shoe (2018).
Martin Amanshauser, "South Africa. The Demolition of a District." Versopolis: European Review of Poetry, Books and Culture (Ljubljana, Slovenia). http://www.versopolis.com/panorama/543/south-africa (2018).
Martin Amanshauser, "Argentina. The Hiccups of a Lifetime." Versopolis: European Review of Poetry, Books and Culture. (Ljubljana, Slovenia) http://www.versopolis.com/panorama/539/argentina (2017).
The Shadow of Utopia. A Film by Antoinette Zwirchmayr. Text by Angelika Reitzer. Translation Voice Over by Geoffrey C. Howes. Austria, 2017.
Lilian Faschinger, "Ice on the Lake." Litro 6 July 2017. https://www.litro.co.uk/2017/07/ice-on-the-lake/
Friederike Gösweiner, "NOW+HERE." In I Dreamed We Were Alive. KUNST HAUS WIEN, 2017. http://www.hannaputz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/I-dreamed-we-were-alive.pdf
In Antoinette Zwirchmayr. Ed. Kunst im Traklhaus, Waagplatz 1a, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria, 2017.
- Christian Emmerich, "Subjective Thoughts on the Film."
- Ursula Probst, "Sensitive Relationships."
- Christoph Gnädig, "Rebellion of the Bodies."
Lilian Faschinger translated by Geoffrey C. Howes. From Town Full of Losers (Stadt der Verlierer. Hanser, Munich 2007. Part 1, Chapter 2). Drunken Boat. Folio: “Women and Non-Binary Noir.” Edited by Rachel Hildebrandt. 20 Jan 2017. http://www.drunkenboat.com/db24/women-non-binary-noir/geoffrey-c-howes-translating-lilian-faschinger
Clemens Berger, “Into the Heart of Time” (“Ins Herz der Zeit”). Versopolis: European Review of Poetry, Books and Culture. 23 Dec 2016. http://www.versopolis.com/long-read/286/into-the-heart-of-time
Dieter Sperl and Michael Fischer, “At the Edge of the Emptiness of All Things.” Radio Helsinki, 11 January 2016. http://www.radia.fm/?p=3961
Lucas Cejpek, “Standing Man.” FixPoetry Text des Tages 20 Oct 2015. http://www.fixpoetry.com/texte/text-des-tages/lucas-cejpek/standing-man
Lilian Faschinger, “Two Excerpts from Town Full of Losers, an English Translation of Lilian Faschinger’s novel Stadt der Verlierer by Geoffrey C. Howes.” Winning Back Lost Territory: The Writing of Lilian Faschinger. Ed. Laura McLary and Vincent Kling. Riverside, CA: Ariadne Press, 2014. 284-95.
Dieter Sperl, “From absichtslos (unintentional, 2007).” The Review of Contemporary Fiction 33/2, Translations in Progress (Summer 2013), 172-82.
Margret Kreidl, Excerpts from Einfache Erklärung. Feribord: Zeitschrift für Literatur und Kunst7 (Nov 2013). Ed. Gerhard Jaschke.
Jürg Laederach, “From The Whole of Life.” The Review of Contemporary Fiction 33/1, Dalkey Archive Annual 4 (Spring 2013), 72-79.
Lucas Cejpek, “I am There.” Jonas Mekas. Österreichisches Filmmuseum, 2013. http://www.filmmuseum.at/jart/prj3/filmmuseum/main.jart?rel=en&contentid=1219068743272&schienen_id=1355220831449
Peter Rosei, a selection of poems from Viel früher, trans. by Geoffrey Howes in Ruthless and Other Writings (Riverside, CA: Ariadne, 2003). The PIP (Project for Innovative Poetry) Blog. Ed. Douglas Messerli (2013). http://pippoetry.blogspot.com/2013/03/peter-rosei.html
Margret Kreidl, “Experimental Series Red.” Gue Schmidt, Retrospective. Vienna: transferEDITION, 2012, 32-35.
In Zwei Wochen England. Ed. Heide Kunzelmann. Vienna: Sonderzahl, 2012:
- Peter Mikl, “Foreword” 8-11;
- Martin Liebscher, “Aquilegia Caerulea for Musil, or English Football’s Debt to Stefan Zweig,” 12-18;
- Walter Grond, “A Sojourn, Writing, in London,” 22-26;
- Doron Rabinovici, “On Writing for Myself,” 30-42;
- Lilian Faschinger, “Three Poems,” 60-68;
- Gabriele Petricek, “On the Zero Meridian,” 106-26;
- Evelyn Schlag, “Is Bohemia on the Sea” 148-50;
- Erich Wolfgang Skwara, “Three Poems,” 170-74;
- Franzobel, “Why Formula One Racing Will Return to Austria,” “England is Hot; What about Us?,” and “Yet Another Beckham Outing,” 202-16;
- Heide Kunzelmann, “The Zero Meridian as Vanishing Point: Notes on Austrian Texts About England,” 218-30.
Dieter Sperl, “Casual Observations” 1, 2, & 3. (“Lose Betrachtungen” 1, 2 und 3), in Sebastian Weissenbacher, Etüden für Fortgeschrittene / Etudes for the Advanced, mit Texten von Lucas Cuturi und Dieter Sperl). Vienna: VBK, 2010, pages 13, 32, 46.
Lucas Cejpek, "Workportrait Thomas Kosma. Talking with Lucas Cejpek." In Thomas Kosma: Arbeiten 1993-2010. Anlässlich der Ausstellung Knochenbarock, base-level, Wien. Klosterneuburg 2010, 34-54.
Susanne Ayoub, “Maughter & Dother” (“Muchter & Totter”), Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review 34 (Spring/Summer 2010), 54-55.
Margret Kreidl, “Quick Shots 1” (Schnelle Schüsse 1). Ars poetica. Festival poézie Bratislava, 2007. Published on line at: http://www.arspoetica.sk/2007/?lang=eng&kreidl.
Doron Rabinovici, Anyway (Ohnehin). Excerpts. Dimension2. 9/1-2 (2007), 132-53.
Gerhard Kofler, Excerpts from Poesie da calendario / Am Rand der Tage / Edge of Days; Il posto esposto / Der ausgesetzte Platz / Exposed Position; Poesie di mare e terra / Poesie von Meer und Erde / Poems from Sea and Earth; Poesie di mare, terra e cielo / Poesie von Meer, Erde und Himmel / Poems from Sea, Earth and Sky (2001). http://members.chello.at/gerhard.kofler/extracts.htm

Translations for Public Readings and Performances

Peter Rosei, "Life in Middle America"; Elisabeth Reichart, Selected Poetry; Josef Haslinger, "Marie." Zu Hause im Reisen / At Home While Away: Österreichische Literatur in Bowling Green. Literaturarchiv Salzburg, 8 June 2018.
Susanne Ayoub, Selected Poetry. Gerard Manley Hopkins Poetry Festival, Kildare, Ireland, 21-28 July, 2017.
Clemens Berger, “Into the Heart of Time.” Grounds for Thought Coffeehouse, Bowling Green, OH, March 2015.
Bilingual Reading – Das Jubiläum. Werner Thuswaldner reads from his novel and Professor Geoffrey Howes reads from his English translation. 3 April 2014, University of Salzburg Library.
Doron Rabinovici, “On Writing for Myself.” Reading at book launch for Zwei Wochen England, Austrian Cultural Forum, London, UK, November 2012.
Angelika Reitzer, unter uns / among ourselves. Grounds for Thought Coffeehouse, Bowling Green, OH, March 2012.
Dieter Sperl, absichtslos / unintentional. Reading at Bowling Green State University, Nov. 2010.
Lilian Faschinger, Stadt der Verlierer / Town Full of Losers (Ch. 1-2), 2008. For readings on tour sponsored by the Austrian Cultural Forum, April 2009.
Susanne Ayoub, Im Lande Nur / In the Land of Mere, 2008. Student performance in Chapman Learning Community, BGSU, November 7, 2008. Director: Susanne Ayoub.
Susanne Ayoub, Liebe/Love. Poems, Bowling Green State University, 2008.
Susanne Ayoub, Schlaf/Sleep, Bowling Green State University, 2008.
Susanne Ayoub, “Born in Baghdad. Encountering Memory.” 2007. Read at the Austrian Cultural Forum, Washington DC, April 28, 2008.
Peter Rosei, Wien Metropolis / Metropolis Vienna. Excerpts. English reading by actor Richard Henzel, Goethe Institut, Chicago, October 4, 2006.
Susanne Ayoub, “Revolution.” 2007. For various readings.
Margret Kreidl, Straight to the Heart. For various readings.
Lilian Faschinger, One for the Record Books. A Play. Performed in readers’ theater as one of the opening events of the new Austrian Cultural Forum building in New York, May 2002.
Lilian Faschinger, “Twelve Rough Nights with Song,” poem cycle. Translated by Lilian Faschinger and Geoff Howes.
Gerhard Kofler, The Calendar Trilogy (Exposed Position, Edge of Days, and The Clockwork Logic of Verse) (volumes of poetry); additional selected poems. Read at various readings; selection published on Kofler’s website.
Lilian Faschinger, High Time. A Play in Five Acts.
Further translations of texts by Peter Rosei, Erwin Einzinger, Michael Scharang, Elfriede Czurda, Doron Rabinovici, Lucas Cejpek, and Margret Kreidl, for public readings.

Publications on Translation

“A Note on Translating Lilian Faschinger’s Stadt der Verlierer (Town Full of Losers).” Winning Back Lost Territory: The Writing of Lilian Faschinger. Ed. Laura McLary and Vincent Kling. Riverside, CA: Ariadne Press, 2014. 275-83.
“Texte Peter Roseis auf dem Weg ins Amerikanische: Der Rhythmus als Übersetzungsprinzip.” Advanced Rosei. Ed. Clemens Stepina. Vienna: Sonderzahl, 2011. 141-56.
“Column: The Challenge.” 12 Swiss Books Recommended for Translation 2014. http://www.prohelvetia.ch/Columns.3389.0.html?&L=4

Presentations on Translation

“Als Fremder unterwegs in Wien Metropolis.” “Fest für Peter Rosei.” Salzkammergut Festwochen Gmunden, Gmunden, Austria, July 30-August 2, 2015.
“Making Doderer Palatable: Translating His Repertory.” For the session “The Politics of Defamation: Heimito von Doderer’s Reputation in English.” American Literary Translators Association (ALTA) Conference. 13 Nov 2014, Milwaukee.
“’The Whole of Life’: Literary Translation as Intercultural Communication.” Bowling Green State University College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Faculty Lecture, Oct. 28, 2014.
“Translating Gender in Austrian Literature.” Panel Discussion with Allyson Fiddler (Lancaster), Geoffrey C. Howes (Bowling Green), Mike Mitchell (Independent Translator), and Karen Leeder (Oxford). Institute of Germanic and Romance Studies, University of London. 4 June 2013. https://youtu.be/zgZOjbkm0yM
“Translating Rhythm in Prose, German to English.” The Binghamton University German Studies Colloquium 2012: “Doppelgängers and Fraternal Twins: Translations in German Studies,” Binghamton University, April 20/21, 2012.
“Übersetzen als Deuten: Texte Peter Roseis auf dem Weg ins Amerikanische.” Symposium zum 65. Geburtstag von Peter Rosei, 15-16 April 2011. Internationales Theaterinstitut der UNESCO – Centrum Österreich, Vienna, Austria.
"Die dritte Sprache. Erfahrungen beim Übersetzen der Gedichte Gerhard Koflers ins Amerikanische." la memoria delle onde / das gedächtnis der wellen. A Two-Day Symposium On The Work Of The Poet Gerhard Kofler (1949-2005). Bozen/Bolzano, Italy, September 2006.
"One Poem, Three Languages? Translation as a Doorway to Gerhard Kofler’s Italian-German Tandem Poetry." Midwest Modern Language Association, Chicago, Nov. 7-9, 2003.

Radio Broadcast

“Wie wir zusammen kamen: Der Schriftsteller Peter Rosei und sein amerikanischer Übersetzer Geoffrey Howes.” Moment: Leben heute, a feature of Ö1 (First Austrian Radio), Austrian Broadcasting Corporation, broadcast June 24, 2014. (Radio interview with Peter Rosei and his translator Geoffrey Howes.)

Translation-Related Book Reviews

Rebecca L. Walkowitz, Born Translated: The Contemporary Novel in an Age of World Literature. (2015). Translation Review, 95/1 (2016), 86-89.
Anna Mitgutsch, House of Childhood. Transl. by David Dollenmayer. (2006). Modern Austrian Literature 42.1 (2009), 147-49.
Fritz von Herzmanovsky-Orlando. The Tragic Demise of a Faithful Court Official. Translated and with an afterword by David A. Veeder. 1997. (http://www.h-net.msu.edu/reviews/showrev.cgi?path=2228881707820).
Robert Musil, Precision and Soul: Essays and Addresses. Ed. and trl. B. Pike and D. Luft. 1990. Austrian History Yearbook 1993, 250-51.
Robert Musil, On Mach's Theories. 1982. Modern Austrian Literature 21 (1988), 123.
Robert Musil, Selected Writings. 1986. Unterrichtspraxis 20 (1987), 354-55.
Arthur Schnitzler, Plays and Stories. 1982. Unterrichtspraxis 20 (1987), 144-45.