Hay festival diary: Tales of the interpreter
How François Mitterrand used to tease Margaret Thatcher, plus a translatorless German's cock-up
✒Amanda Galsworthy was one of four siblings, each of them raised by their linguist father in a different European language. Thus she has been the interpreter for every French president since François Mitterrand (of whom she said "To this day I don't know whether he spoke any English at all"). In conversation with broadcaster Jon Snow she described the way Mitterrand used to tease Margaret Thatcher by indicating Galsworthy and having her translate into English: "This young woman is one of yours." He would then pause, smile provocatively, and add: "But she works for us."
From: Books: Books + News | guardian.co.uk
Sunday, 30 May, 2010
Recent entries
- Ed Miliband at Hay festival: Coalition was betrayal of Lib Dem principles
- Hay festival diary: Tales of the interpreter
- Hay's unmissable (if you can get there…)
- The Censor and the Censored, Linked by Literature
- Making Hay while the sun don't shine
- In Ink on a Flyleaf, Forever Yours
- Bill Bryson: I'll cheer for England, but I won't risk citizenship test
- Maldives president calls for direct action over climate change
- A Book Agent’s Descent and Ascent From the Ashes
- Noises Off
Newsletter
Untitled Books
Your account
Register for an account and review books, comment on articles and build a list of your favourite reviews. Coming soon.
