The Stevns Translation Prize 2025 is now open.

The Stevns Translation Prize, run by Peirene Press (UK) and Two Lines Press (US), is an annual award which offers opportunities for emerging translators to translate their first full-length work of fiction. Every year, a different language and book is chosen and entrants are invited to translate an extract. The winning entrant is offered a contract to translate the whole book, along with a mentorship from an experienced translator and up to six weeks at a retreat in the French Pyrenees. 

Previously known as the Peirene Stevns Prize and established in 2018 with the generous support of Martha Stevns, the prize is open to any translator over the age of 18 who has not yet published a full work of fiction in translation.

Generously Endowed by Martha Stevns

Martha Stevns grew up in the Swiss-German speaking part of Switzerland and studied German Literature and Linguistics. Her love of literature has always stayed with her, and reading in German, French and English has been and still is one of her great pleasures. Peirene’s aim of bringing literature from different cultures and languages to the English speaking world through translations of high quality writing fits right into Martha’s philosophy of appreciating and sharing the richness of different cultures.

Involvement and support of the arts has long been a part of Martha’s life: Martha worked as an editor at the Swiss art magazine, DU, as well as running her own contemporary art gallery in the UK. In addition, Martha’s late husband founded the Australian Vogels Literary Award together with the Australian newspaper and the publisher Unwin Australia for an unpublished manuscript by young Australian writers. With the Peirene Stevns Translation Prize Martha, together with Peirene, wants to support young translators and hopes it will help the breaking down of linguistic (and other) barriers. Martha moved to the UK in 1985 and now lives in Cambridge.

Previous Winners

‘Thank you so much to Martha Stevns and Peirene Press for such a wonderful prize. At every stage of the process, I’ve been in my element: immersing myself in the novel, working with my brilliant mentor, Jamie Bulloch, exploring alternatives with Yael Inokai directly, and going through the nitty gritty with Peirene’s editors. I even got to exchange ideas with translators working on the text in different target languages. I felt fully supported, and learned as much about preparing a text for publication as about the creative process of translation.’

– Marielle Sutherland, winner of the 2023 Peirene Stevns Translation Prize

‘Winning the Peirene Stevns Translation Prize has been a truly wonderful experience – from an unforgettable stay at Martha Stevn’s beautiful home in the Pyrenees, to the chance to spend months immersed in the genius of the late Victor Heringer and his remarkable novel, and of course the privilege of learning from a translator as brilliant as Sophie Lewis. The prize is an incredible and unique opportunity for anyone hoping to develop a career as a literary translator.’

– James Young, winner of the 2022 Peirene Stevns Translation Prize

‘Since winning the prize I have been on an amazing journey: from first drafts, to corresponding with Manuel Astur, to crafting the text – all under Sophie Hughes’ expert guidance – to seeing the editor at work. I’m looking forward immensely to the next stage and am so grateful to Peirene Press and Martha Stevns.’

– Claire Wadie, winner of the 2021 Peirene Stevns Translation Prize

Translating the iconic Swedish landscape of Andrea Lundgren’s Nordic Fauna was a delightful challenge. The experience was made possible by Martha Stevns’s insight and generosity in founding the Peirene Stevns Translation Prize, which provides aspiring translators the opportunity to do meaningful and fascinating work, learn from the best and find a path forward. I’m deeply grateful to her, my mentor Sarah Death and Peirene Press for the close and effective working relationship we enjoyed throughout the process.’

– John Litell, winner of the 2020 Peirene Stevns Translation Prize

‘I worked on a story of bitter Alpine harshness [Snow, Dog, Foot] from the comfort of an idyllic mill in the Pyrenees, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Martha Stevns. In creating the Peirene Stevns Translation Prize, she and Peirene Press have provided an unparalleled opportunity for young translators to see their work in print. I am incredibly grateful to them and I look forward to reading many more translations by future prizewinners!’

– J Ockenden, winner of the 2019 Peirene Stevns Translation Prize