A fortunate meeting with Loukas Loukakis of Aetion Collectors’ Editions led to collaboration on a hand-bound collector’s edition, and a happy decision to illustrate it with five of the original 18 paintings done by Minos Argyrakis. I think I succeeded in keeping the rhythm, but at certain points it was at the expense of the freedom of the translation.» She reworked her translation, completing the final version in 2000. In the early months of 1974, it was still a challenge in fact, one felt one was making almost an act of resistance to post translations out to the publisher in Minnesota, and get them into print.» Rendering Ritsos’s 15-syllable verse was doubly difficult, says Mims: «My main goal was to preserve the rhythm of the songs. Those were heady times: «We were abroad in Cyprus and I felt delighted to be translating Ritsos.

It was before the junta fell that Mims began her first translation of the poems.

Greece was still under the colonels’ junta and the 18 poems poignantly reflected the sufferings and resilience of the Greeks.

She talked to Kathimerini English Edition about her new translation of the «18 Short Songs of the Bitter Motherland,» now available in a collector’s edition, and «Ritsos of the Iconostasis,» a bilingual companion to «The Iconostasis of Anonymous Saints.» Heady times Ritsos wrote «18 Short Songs of the Bitter Motherland» in 1968-70, at the request of Mikis Theodorakis who wanted new poems to set to music. This year's Book Awards continues to have some adjustments and innovations, especially focusing on consolidating and adding new members who are prestigious scientists and researchers, including some young scientists in the Preliminary and Final Examination Council, who come from various regions across the country, the online newspaper reported.Amy Mims, indefatigable translator of Yiannis Ritsos, has produced two new books in homage to the poet. Le Hoang, vice chairman of the Vietnam Publishing Association, spoke on vietnamnet.vn that besides the books with high academic and ideological value, there are also books providing scientific knowledge, culture, art and living skills for young people. Speaking at the ceremony, Nguyen Trong Nghia, head of the Publicity Department of the Party Central Committee, affirmed the importance of the awards and said he hoped that the National Book Awards, would help spread the reading culture in the community and bring knowledge close to society.Ĭhairman of the National Book Awards Council Hoang Vinh Bao said that books for children were a highlight of the fourth National Book Awards. The best books written about politics-economics, natural sciences and technology, social sciences, humanities, culture, literature, art and children's books have been awarded prizes. The National Book Awards Council honoured 24 works of literature at a ceremony held last Friday in Hanoi. However, Vietnam has many local authors who can write quality books for children. In recent years, many publishers and companies such as Nha Nam, Dong A, Dinh Ti and HCM City General Publishing House have begun to pay more attention to children's books with highly rated publications.įor a long time, many people believed that local books could not compare with foreign ones. The awards for children's books included one A prize, Chang Hoang Dã – Gấu (Wild Chang and Bear) four B prizes, Dạy con tài chính (Teach children finance), Chuyện của anh em nhà Mem và Kya (Tales of the Mem and Kya brothers), Loài Plastic - Khi nhựa trỗi dậy (Rise of plastic) and Lướt cùng Tí Địa Lí (Surfing with Tí) and two C prizes Nâu Nâu thị thành - Xanh Xanh đồng quê (Brown Urban - Green Countryside) and Cuốn sách về quyền lực - Nó là cái gì, ai có nó, và tại sao? (The Book of Power - What is it, who has it, and why?). Seven children's books won prizes at the National Book Awards.

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