Steven T. Murray
Encyclopedia
Steven T. Murray is an American
translator
from Swedish
, German
, Danish
, and Norwegian
. He has worked under the pseudonyms Reg Keeland and McKinley Burnett when edited into UK English. He translated the bestselling Millennium series by Stieg Larsson
, three crime novels and two African novels by Henning Mankell
, three psychological suspense novels by Karin Alvtegen
, and works by many other authors. In 2001 he won the Gold Dagger Award in the UK for his translation of Sidetracked by Henning Mankell
.
Murray was born in Berkeley, California
, and grew up in Oakland, Manila
, Mexico City
, and San Diego. He attended Stanford University
on a General Motors National Scholarship and made his first trip to Europe in 1963 to study at Stanford-in-Germany in Beutelsbach
near Stuttgart. He returned to Europe the next year with the Scandinavian Seminar to study at Krogerup Højskole in Humlebæk, Denmark, and later taught English conversation and American literature at Herning Højskole in Jutland
. He received his BA in Creative Writing in 1972 from California State University, Hayward. His first paid published translations, two Norwegian science fiction stories by Jon Bing and Tor Åge Bringsværd in an anthology of European SF from DAW Books, appeared in 1976.
After seven years working in technical translation, editing, and foreign-language typography, Murray founded Fjord Press and was editor-in-chief from 1981 to 2001 (Berkeley and Seattle), publishing mainly Scandinavian and German fiction in translation and a few American and British titles. He now lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he and his wife Tiina Nunnally
are both full-time freelance literary translators.
From Danish:
From Norwegian:
From German and Spanish:
From German:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
translator
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
from Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, Danish
Danish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
, and Norwegian
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
. He has worked under the pseudonyms Reg Keeland and McKinley Burnett when edited into UK English. He translated the bestselling Millennium series by Stieg Larsson
Stieg Larsson
Karl Stig-Erland Larsson , who wrote professionally as Stieg Larsson, was a Swedish journalist and writer, born in Skelleftehamn outside Skellefteå. He is best known for writing the "Millennium series" of crime novels, which were published posthumously...
, three crime novels and two African novels by Henning Mankell
Henning Mankell
Henning Mankell is a Swedish crime writer, children's author, leftist activist and dramatist, best known for a series of mystery novels starring his most famous creation, Inspector Kurt Wallander.-Life and career:...
, three psychological suspense novels by Karin Alvtegen
Karin Alvtegen
Karin Alvtegen is a Swedish author of crime fiction. Alvtegen's psychological thrillers are generally set in Sweden. Four of her books have been translated into English: Missing, Betrayal, Shadow and Shame....
, and works by many other authors. In 2001 he won the Gold Dagger Award in the UK for his translation of Sidetracked by Henning Mankell
Henning Mankell
Henning Mankell is a Swedish crime writer, children's author, leftist activist and dramatist, best known for a series of mystery novels starring his most famous creation, Inspector Kurt Wallander.-Life and career:...
.
Murray was born in Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, and grew up in Oakland, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, and San Diego. He attended Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
on a General Motors National Scholarship and made his first trip to Europe in 1963 to study at Stanford-in-Germany in Beutelsbach
Beutelsbach
Beutelsbach is a municipality in the district of Passau in Bavaria in Germany....
near Stuttgart. He returned to Europe the next year with the Scandinavian Seminar to study at Krogerup Højskole in Humlebæk, Denmark, and later taught English conversation and American literature at Herning Højskole in Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
. He received his BA in Creative Writing in 1972 from California State University, Hayward. His first paid published translations, two Norwegian science fiction stories by Jon Bing and Tor Åge Bringsværd in an anthology of European SF from DAW Books, appeared in 1976.
After seven years working in technical translation, editing, and foreign-language typography, Murray founded Fjord Press and was editor-in-chief from 1981 to 2001 (Berkeley and Seattle), publishing mainly Scandinavian and German fiction in translation and a few American and British titles. He now lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he and his wife Tiina Nunnally
Tiina Nunnally
Tiina Nunnally is an American author and translator.Nunnally was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and St. Louis Park, Minnesota. She was an AFS exchange student to Århus, Denmark in 1969-70. She received her MA in 1976 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a...
are both full-time freelance literary translators.
Selected translations
From Swedish:- The Gallows Bird by Camilla LäckbergCamilla LäckbergJean Edith Camilla Läckberg Eriksson is a Swedish crime writer.A common theme in Läckberg's books is that all are traditionally set in or around her birthplace, the small Swedish west coast town of Fjällbacka...
(from Swedish) (2011) - Daniel by Henning MankellHenning MankellHenning Mankell is a Swedish crime writer, children's author, leftist activist and dramatist, best known for a series of mystery novels starring his most famous creation, Inspector Kurt Wallander.-Life and career:...
(from Swedish) (2010) - The Stonecutter by Camilla LäckbergCamilla LäckbergJean Edith Camilla Läckberg Eriksson is a Swedish crime writer.A common theme in Läckberg's books is that all are traditionally set in or around her birthplace, the small Swedish west coast town of Fjällbacka...
(from Swedish) (2010) - The Crusades Trilogy 3: Birth of the Kingdom by Jan GuillouJan GuillouJan Oskar Sverre Lucien Henri Guillou is a Swedish author and journalist. Among his books are a series of spy fiction novels about a spy named Carl Hamilton, and a trilogy of historical fiction novels about a Knight Templar, Arn Magnusson...
(from Swedish) (2010) - The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' NestThe Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' NestThe Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest is the third and final novel in the best-selling "Millennium series"by Swedish writer Stieg Larsson.The novel is the sequel to The Girl Who Played with Fire....
by Stieg LarssonStieg LarssonKarl Stig-Erland Larsson , who wrote professionally as Stieg Larsson, was a Swedish journalist and writer, born in Skelleftehamn outside Skellefteå. He is best known for writing the "Millennium series" of crime novels, which were published posthumously...
(from Swedish) under pseudonym Reg Keeland (2009) - The Crusades Trilogy 2: The Templar Knight by Jan GuillouJan GuillouJan Oskar Sverre Lucien Henri Guillou is a Swedish author and journalist. Among his books are a series of spy fiction novels about a spy named Carl Hamilton, and a trilogy of historical fiction novels about a Knight Templar, Arn Magnusson...
(from Swedish) (2009) - The Preacher by Camilla LäckbergCamilla LäckbergJean Edith Camilla Läckberg Eriksson is a Swedish crime writer.A common theme in Läckberg's books is that all are traditionally set in or around her birthplace, the small Swedish west coast town of Fjällbacka...
(from Swedish) (2009) - Shadow by Karin AlvtegenKarin AlvtegenKarin Alvtegen is a Swedish author of crime fiction. Alvtegen's psychological thrillers are generally set in Sweden. Four of her books have been translated into English: Missing, Betrayal, Shadow and Shame....
(from Swedish) under pseudonym McKinley Burnett (2009) - The Crusades Trilogy 1: The Road to Jerusalem by Jan GuillouJan GuillouJan Oskar Sverre Lucien Henri Guillou is a Swedish author and journalist. Among his books are a series of spy fiction novels about a spy named Carl Hamilton, and a trilogy of historical fiction novels about a Knight Templar, Arn Magnusson...
(from Swedish) (2009) - The Girl Who Played with FireThe Girl Who Played with FireThe Girl Who Played with Fire is the second novel in the best-selling "Millennium series" by Swedish writer Stieg Larsson. It was published posthumously in Swedish in 2006 and in English in January 2009....
by Stieg LarssonStieg LarssonKarl Stig-Erland Larsson , who wrote professionally as Stieg Larsson, was a Swedish journalist and writer, born in Skelleftehamn outside Skellefteå. He is best known for writing the "Millennium series" of crime novels, which were published posthumously...
(from Swedish) under pseudonym Reg Keeland (2009) - The Ice Princess by Camilla LäckbergCamilla LäckbergJean Edith Camilla Läckberg Eriksson is a Swedish crime writer.A common theme in Läckberg's books is that all are traditionally set in or around her birthplace, the small Swedish west coast town of Fjällbacka...
(from Swedish) (2008) - The Eye of the Leopard by Henning MankellHenning MankellHenning Mankell is a Swedish crime writer, children's author, leftist activist and dramatist, best known for a series of mystery novels starring his most famous creation, Inspector Kurt Wallander.-Life and career:...
(from Swedish) (2008) - The Girl with the Dragon TattooThe Girl with the Dragon TattooThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is an award-winning crime novel by Swedish author and journalist Stieg Larsson. It is the first book in the trilogy known as the "Millennium series"....
by Stieg LarssonStieg LarssonKarl Stig-Erland Larsson , who wrote professionally as Stieg Larsson, was a Swedish journalist and writer, born in Skelleftehamn outside Skellefteå. He is best known for writing the "Millennium series" of crime novels, which were published posthumously...
(from Swedish) under pseudonym Reg Keeland (2008) - Shame by Karin AlvtegenKarin AlvtegenKarin Alvtegen is a Swedish author of crime fiction. Alvtegen's psychological thrillers are generally set in Sweden. Four of her books have been translated into English: Missing, Betrayal, Shadow and Shame....
(from Swedish) (2006) - Betrayal by Karin AlvtegenKarin AlvtegenKarin Alvtegen is a Swedish author of crime fiction. Alvtegen's psychological thrillers are generally set in Sweden. Four of her books have been translated into English: Missing, Betrayal, Shadow and Shame....
(from Swedish) (2005) - Detective Inspector Huss by Helene TurstenHelene TurstenHelene Tursten is a Swedish writer of crime fiction. The main character in her stories is Detective Inspector Irene Huss. Before becoming an author, Tursten worked as a nurse and then a dentist, but was forced to leave due to illness...
(from Swedish) (2002) - The Fifth Woman by Henning MankellHenning MankellHenning Mankell is a Swedish crime writer, children's author, leftist activist and dramatist, best known for a series of mystery novels starring his most famous creation, Inspector Kurt Wallander.-Life and career:...
(from Swedish) (2000) - Sidetracked by Henning MankellHenning MankellHenning Mankell is a Swedish crime writer, children's author, leftist activist and dramatist, best known for a series of mystery novels starring his most famous creation, Inspector Kurt Wallander.-Life and career:...
(from Swedish) (1999) - Faceless Killers by Henning MankellHenning MankellHenning Mankell is a Swedish crime writer, children's author, leftist activist and dramatist, best known for a series of mystery novels starring his most famous creation, Inspector Kurt Wallander.-Life and career:...
(from Swedish) (1997) - Enemy’s Enemy by Jan GuillouJan GuillouJan Oskar Sverre Lucien Henri Guillou is a Swedish author and journalist. Among his books are a series of spy fiction novels about a spy named Carl Hamilton, and a trilogy of historical fiction novels about a Knight Templar, Arn Magnusson...
, with Tiina NunnallyTiina NunnallyTiina Nunnally is an American author and translator.Nunnally was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and St. Louis Park, Minnesota. She was an AFS exchange student to Århus, Denmark in 1969-70. She received her MA in 1976 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a...
under pseudonym Thomas Keeland (from Swedish) (1992)
From Danish:
- War by Klaus RifbjergKlaus RifbjergKlaus Rifbjerg is a Danish writer. He has written more than 170 novels, books and essays.- Biography :Rifbjerg was born in Copenhagen and grew up on the island of Amager, a part of the city, the child of two teachers...
, with Tiina NunnallyTiina NunnallyTiina Nunnally is an American author and translator.Nunnally was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and St. Louis Park, Minnesota. She was an AFS exchange student to Århus, Denmark in 1969-70. She received her MA in 1976 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a...
(from Danish) (1995) - Pelle the Conqueror, Vol. 2: Apprenticeship by Martin Andersen NexøMartin Andersen NexøMartin Andersen Nexø was a Danish writer. He was the first significant Danish author to depict the working class in his writings, and the first great Danish socialist, later communist, writer.-Biography:...
, with Tiina NunnallyTiina NunnallyTiina Nunnally is an American author and translator.Nunnally was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and St. Louis Park, Minnesota. She was an AFS exchange student to Århus, Denmark in 1969-70. She received her MA in 1976 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a...
(from Danish) (1991) - Another Metamorphosis & Other Fictions by Villy SørensenVilly SørensenVilly Sørensen was a Danish short-story writer, philosopher and literary critic of the Modernist tradition. His fiction was heavily influenced by his philosophical ideas, and he has been compared to Franz Kafka in this regard...
, with Tiina NunnallyTiina NunnallyTiina Nunnally is an American author and translator.Nunnally was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and St. Louis Park, Minnesota. She was an AFS exchange student to Århus, Denmark in 1969-70. She received her MA in 1976 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a...
(from Danish) (1990) - Pelle the Conqueror, Vol. 1: Childhood by Martin Andersen NexøMartin Andersen NexøMartin Andersen Nexø was a Danish writer. He was the first significant Danish author to depict the working class in his writings, and the first great Danish socialist, later communist, writer.-Biography:...
(from Danish) (1989) - Witness to the Future by Klaus RifbjergKlaus RifbjergKlaus Rifbjerg is a Danish writer. He has written more than 170 novels, books and essays.- Biography :Rifbjerg was born in Copenhagen and grew up on the island of Amager, a part of the city, the child of two teachers...
(from Danish) (1987) - The Sardine Deception by Leif DavidsenLeif DavidsenLeif Davidsen is a Danish author. Educated as a journalist, in 1977 he started working in Spain as a freelance journalist for Danmarks Radio. In 1980 he began covering Soviet news with frequent news reports to Danmarks Radio from Russia. From 1984 to 1988 he was stationed in Moscow. As a...
, with Tiina NunnallyTiina NunnallyTiina Nunnally is an American author and translator.Nunnally was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and St. Louis Park, Minnesota. She was an AFS exchange student to Århus, Denmark in 1969-70. She received her MA in 1976 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a...
(from Danish) (1986)
From Norwegian:
- A Wealth of Tradition: Jøtul, 1853–2003 by Dag Ove Skjold (from Norwegian) (2003)
- Like Thunder: A Play by Niels Fredrik DahlNiels Fredrik DahlNiels Fredrik Dahl is a Norwegian novelist, lyricist and dramatist. He was awarded the Brage Prize in 2002 for the novel På vei til en venn. He has also written manus for TV series.-References:...
(from Norwegian) (produced 2001) - The AbductionThe AbductionThe Abduction is an episode from the second season of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. The two part episode first aired on April 4, 1994 and served as the CBS show's 40th and 41st installments. It was written by Josef Anderson and directed by Jerome R. London....
by Mette NewthMette NewthMette Cecilie Newth is a Norwegian illustrator, author of children's literature, and organizer.-Personal life:Mette Newth was born in Oslo as the daughter of journalist, crime writer and revue writer Fridtjof Knutsen and his wife Alfhild Gundersen...
, with Tiina NunnallyTiina NunnallyTiina Nunnally is an American author and translator.Nunnally was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and St. Louis Park, Minnesota. She was an AFS exchange student to Århus, Denmark in 1969-70. She received her MA in 1976 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a...
(from Norwegian) (1989)
From German and Spanish:
- Queens of Havana: The Amazing Adventures of Anacaona, Cuba’s Legendary All-Girl Dance Band by Alicia Castro with Ingrid Kummels, US edition (from German and Spanish) (2007)
- Anacaona: The Amazing Adventures of Cuba’s First All-Girl Dance Band by Alicia Castro with Ingrid Kummels, UK edition (from German and Spanish) (2007)
From German:
- The Philosopher's Kiss by Peter Prange (from German) (2011)
Awards
- Jens Peter Jacobsen Prize from the Limfjord Region Literary Society, Thisted, Denmark, for editing new translations of two classic works by Jens Peter JacobsenJens Peter JacobsenJens Peter Jacobsen was a Danish novelist, poet, and scientist, in Denmark often just written as "J. P. Jacobsen" and pronounced "I. P. Jacobsen"...
(1994) - Columbia Translation Center award for Witness to the FutureWitness to the FutureWitness to the Future is a novel written by Danish author Klaus Rifbjerg in 1981.It is about two young boys who are playing in the woods outside Copenhagen in occupied Denmark in the Second World War. They discover a cave with a tunnel that leads them from 1941 to 1981...
by Klaus RifbjergKlaus RifbjergKlaus Rifbjerg is a Danish writer. He has written more than 170 novels, books and essays.- Biography :Rifbjerg was born in Copenhagen and grew up on the island of Amager, a part of the city, the child of two teachers...
(1985)