Obituary Note: Anthea Bell

Anthea Bell, who translated many books from German, French and other languages into English, died last Thursday, the New York Times reported. She was 82.

The works that Bell translated ranged from books by Sigmund Freud, Franz Kafka, W.G. Sebald and Cornelia Funke to the Asterix comics and entries for The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.

She became a translator by "complete accident," the Times quoted her saying. Her husband, publisher Antony Kamm, was asked if he knew anyone who could translate a German children's book, Otfried Preussler's The Little Water Sprite, and recommended his wife. "I did it with my first baby in a carry-cot at my side," Bell said.

Bell wrote two historical novels--A London Season and The Floral Companion--which she regarded as "fripperies" even though her publisher wanted a series. Bell said she was too busy translating to write books. And besides, she added, "Authors can get author's block, but I've never heard of translator's block. Something's got to go down on the paper in the end."

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