Book Launch: Célina by Catherine Axelrad

Fri 28 June
Books & Ideas
Talks

Supported by the Burgess translation programme run by the French Institute

Join an intimate evening featuring a reading of Célina by the esteemed author Catherine Axelrad and a Q&A session with the talented translator Philip Terry. Published by Les Fugitives, Célina offers a profound and unforgettable perspective on issues of sexual consent and class dynamics.

Set in the late 1850s, Célina follows the life of a 15-year-old girl born into poverty who becomes a chambermaid for Victor Hugo’s exiled family in Guernsey, exploring the complex balance between her professional duties and her personal life. 

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to engage with the author and translator of this remarkable novella. Secure your ticket today and be part of a memorable evening celebrating literature and translation.

Book your ticket(s)

About the Author

Catherine Axelrad began her writing career in the late 1980s while working as a teacher. Her body of work includes three autofictional novels, a short biography of Molière, a pastiche of Proust, and a series of YA novellas under the pseudonym Alice Chambard. In 2011, Axelrad transitioned from teaching to study Protestant theology and has since become a minister in the Église protestante unie de France. She resides in Paris.

 

About the Translator

Philip Terry is an Oulipian poet, fiction writer, translator, and editor known for his inventive and precise translations. His works have made significant contributions to the accessibility of French literature for English-speaking audiences.

 

Find out more about the Burgess translation programme

 

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