Martin Shaw
@thebooksdesk.bsky.social
Literary agent @shawliterary.bsky.social, formerly head book buyer at Readings Books, Melbourne. Kafka, Sebald, the Antipodes.
Reposted by Martin Shaw
michael hofmann (translator, writer) has seemed to me like an ass before, and yet again:
“But these are translators: take away their originals and their dictionaries (and their lazy cognates) and they have nothing.”
(latest LRB, review of Margaret Jull Costa’s Vallejo translations)
“But these are translators: take away their originals and their dictionaries (and their lazy cognates) and they have nothing.”
(latest LRB, review of Margaret Jull Costa’s Vallejo translations)
December 13, 2025 at 6:45 PM
michael hofmann (translator, writer) has seemed to me like an ass before, and yet again:
“But these are translators: take away their originals and their dictionaries (and their lazy cognates) and they have nothing.”
(latest LRB, review of Margaret Jull Costa’s Vallejo translations)
“But these are translators: take away their originals and their dictionaries (and their lazy cognates) and they have nothing.”
(latest LRB, review of Margaret Jull Costa’s Vallejo translations)
Biased, but The Revisionists was indeed an outstanding novel this year from that wonder of the west, @eleytherius.bsky.social www.artshub.com.au/news/feature...
My 5 best books of 2025, from poetry to politics
For this ArtsHub reviewer, the best books of the year ran from compelling fiction and poetry to a dictionary of Australian politics.
www.artshub.com.au
December 12, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Biased, but The Revisionists was indeed an outstanding novel this year from that wonder of the west, @eleytherius.bsky.social www.artshub.com.au/news/feature...
People all over the world rave about German "Literaturhäuser"...but they are under threat these days. A petition here to keep the Leipzig one going... innn.it/zukunftliter...
Petition · Es muss doch eine Lösung geben! Das seit fast 30 Jahren bestehende Literaturhaus Leipzig ist von der Schließung bedroht. · innn.it
Jetzt innn.it-Petition unterschreiben & Netzwerk der Literaturhäuser e.V. unterstützen!
innn.it
December 11, 2025 at 10:52 AM
People all over the world rave about German "Literaturhäuser"...but they are under threat these days. A petition here to keep the Leipzig one going... innn.it/zukunftliter...
1:8! @shawliterary.bsky.social finally gets off the mark in a torrid week or two of winter-evening scrabble against the redoubtable @augustasupple.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:47 PM
1:8! @shawliterary.bsky.social finally gets off the mark in a torrid week or two of winter-evening scrabble against the redoubtable @augustasupple.com
Reposted by Martin Shaw
Robert Walser, The Tanners:
“Winter arrived… He didn’t know what to do with all the time on his hands, and since his profession had accustomed him to writing, he now sat and wrote offhandedly, without forethought, on small strips of paper he’d cut to size with scissors. (1/2)
“Winter arrived… He didn’t know what to do with all the time on his hands, and since his profession had accustomed him to writing, he now sat and wrote offhandedly, without forethought, on small strips of paper he’d cut to size with scissors. (1/2)
December 10, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Robert Walser, The Tanners:
“Winter arrived… He didn’t know what to do with all the time on his hands, and since his profession had accustomed him to writing, he now sat and wrote offhandedly, without forethought, on small strips of paper he’d cut to size with scissors. (1/2)
“Winter arrived… He didn’t know what to do with all the time on his hands, and since his profession had accustomed him to writing, he now sat and wrote offhandedly, without forethought, on small strips of paper he’d cut to size with scissors. (1/2)
Reposted by Martin Shaw
Hey everyone, as we close out 2025, I find myself suddenly available for hire.
If your publishing house or magazine is in need of marketing work in the new year, I am available. But I am also available right now, as I am unemployed
If your publishing house or magazine is in need of marketing work in the new year, I am available. But I am also available right now, as I am unemployed
December 10, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Hey everyone, as we close out 2025, I find myself suddenly available for hire.
If your publishing house or magazine is in need of marketing work in the new year, I am available. But I am also available right now, as I am unemployed
If your publishing house or magazine is in need of marketing work in the new year, I am available. But I am also available right now, as I am unemployed
Translators as increasingly "expert spill cleanup" indeed (& even that is getting ever harder to find imo, which makes me wonder how many docs are going straight into the world from the machine) www.linkedin.com/pulse/open-l...
An open letter to colleagues: we are not mops
After more than two decades working in legal translation across four languages and multiple jurisdictions, I’ve watched our profession reshaped by forces that claim efficiency as a path to our expenda...
www.linkedin.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Translators as increasingly "expert spill cleanup" indeed (& even that is getting ever harder to find imo, which makes me wonder how many docs are going straight into the world from the machine) www.linkedin.com/pulse/open-l...
Reposted by Martin Shaw
I shot the serif
Marco Rubio ordered diplomats to return to using Times New Roman font in official communications, calling his predecessor's decision to adopt Calibri a “wasteful” diversity move
Rubio Stages Font Coup: Times New Roman Ousts Calibri
The secretary of state called it a "wasteful" diversity move, according to an internal department cable seen by Reuters.
www.huffpost.com
December 10, 2025 at 8:28 AM
I shot the serif
Some lovely shout-outs here for books I had a hand in (by @catherinechidgey.bsky.social & @ingridhorrocks.bsky.social), and @steelydass.bsky.social reminds me of the Chris Knox bio! thespinoff.co.nz/books/10-12-...
An A to Z of The Spinoff’s best books of 2025
The year's best reads, as chosen by our panel of experts.
thespinoff.co.nz
December 10, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Some lovely shout-outs here for books I had a hand in (by @catherinechidgey.bsky.social & @ingridhorrocks.bsky.social), and @steelydass.bsky.social reminds me of the Chris Knox bio! thespinoff.co.nz/books/10-12-...
Reposted by Martin Shaw
My fellow editors and I @necessaryfiction.com have shared a few of the books we really enjoyed this year for our latest Recommended Reading. I love hearing about what my colleagues are reading, and you might, too necessaryfiction.com/reviews/reco...
Recommended Reading 2025 – Necessary Fiction
necessaryfiction.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:25 PM
My fellow editors and I @necessaryfiction.com have shared a few of the books we really enjoyed this year for our latest Recommended Reading. I love hearing about what my colleagues are reading, and you might, too necessaryfiction.com/reviews/reco...
In what-to-get-Papa-for-xmas ideas in Germany
December 9, 2025 at 7:08 PM
In what-to-get-Papa-for-xmas ideas in Germany
"Given your interest in contemporary, character-led fiction with a strong sense of place..." said I, never! #agentlife #correspondence
December 9, 2025 at 3:21 PM
"Given your interest in contemporary, character-led fiction with a strong sense of place..." said I, never! #agentlife #correspondence
Reposted by Martin Shaw
I should add, this innate skill applies regardless of gender. French men are also incredible with scarves.
As someone who has lived in Paris for 10 years, allow me to say: abandon all hope, it is not within you, they know something the rest of the world does not and it cannot be learned.
December 9, 2025 at 9:00 AM
I should add, this innate skill applies regardless of gender. French men are also incredible with scarves.
Early Aussie xmas tonight in the garret…
December 8, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Early Aussie xmas tonight in the garret…
Reposted by Martin Shaw
Finally took the time to read Colin Bramwell´s brilliant Scots translation of the great Portuguese poet, Fernando Pessoa. Stuart Kelly called it a ‘modern Scots language masterpiece’ in The Scotsman: this isn’t an exaggeration.
(1/3)
(1/3)
April 13, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Finally took the time to read Colin Bramwell´s brilliant Scots translation of the great Portuguese poet, Fernando Pessoa. Stuart Kelly called it a ‘modern Scots language masterpiece’ in The Scotsman: this isn’t an exaggeration.
(1/3)
(1/3)
Reposted by Martin Shaw
I reviewed Gabriele Tergit's THE EFFINGERS, a mighty and brilliant and extremely readable book out now in English thanks to a cracking translation by Sophie Duvernoy >>> www.theguardian.com/books/2025/d...
The Effingers by Gabriele Tergit review – a vivid portrait of Berlin before the Nazis
Written in 1951 and now translated into English for the first time, this family saga by the acclaimed German author recaptures a golden age for Jewish life
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:01 PM
I reviewed Gabriele Tergit's THE EFFINGERS, a mighty and brilliant and extremely readable book out now in English thanks to a cracking translation by Sophie Duvernoy >>> www.theguardian.com/books/2025/d...
Reposted by Martin Shaw
Poor @thebooksdesk.bsky.social - again it appears he's been coaxed into a festive tradition he wasn't expecting: wrestling fairylights onto a tree.
He's such a good sport.
(And he was rewarded with Gluhwein and applause.)
#christmasingermany
He's such a good sport.
(And he was rewarded with Gluhwein and applause.)
#christmasingermany
December 7, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Poor @thebooksdesk.bsky.social - again it appears he's been coaxed into a festive tradition he wasn't expecting: wrestling fairylights onto a tree.
He's such a good sport.
(And he was rewarded with Gluhwein and applause.)
#christmasingermany
He's such a good sport.
(And he was rewarded with Gluhwein and applause.)
#christmasingermany
God she’s good (just read)….
Looking forward very much to a new Lucy Nelson short story, out in the summer edition of @themonthly.com.au! www.themonthly.com.au/december-202...
Lady Jack Black
A new story from the author of Wait Here, about a holiday with friends, a new relationship and a struggle with a liquor cabinet
www.themonthly.com.au
December 7, 2025 at 7:28 PM
God she’s good (just read)….
Tonight: Bach’s Weihnachtsoratorium at the Thomaskirche…
December 6, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Tonight: Bach’s Weihnachtsoratorium at the Thomaskirche…
Can recommend: gingerbread + whisky!
December 6, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Can recommend: gingerbread + whisky!
Reposted by Martin Shaw
Poor @thebooksdesk.bsky.social he just wants to be at home with some red wine...
December 5, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Poor @thebooksdesk.bsky.social he just wants to be at home with some red wine...
Friday evenig motets in the Thomaskirche, Leipzig
December 5, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Friday evenig motets in the Thomaskirche, Leipzig
Hilarious: Guy Rundle with outtakes from the Mushroom Tapes... open.substack.com/pub/guyrundl...
The Mushroom Tapes Outtakes
Commentary from a radical and pluralist perspective on Australian and world affairs.,
Culture, satire and the occasional breaking story
open.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Hilarious: Guy Rundle with outtakes from the Mushroom Tapes... open.substack.com/pub/guyrundl...