How do we really make ourselves understood to other people? This question
is at the heart of David Bellos's funny, wise and life-affirming book,
which shows how, from puns to poetry, news bulletins to the Bible, Asterix
to Swedish films, translation is at the heart of everything we do - and
makes us who we are. Selected by The New York Times as one of the 100
Notable Books of 2011 and as a National Book Critics' Circle Award
finalist. 'A wonderful, witty book . . . richly original, endlessly
fascinating . . . for anyone interested in words.' Economist, Books of the
Year 'A scintillating bouillabaisse . . . spiced with good and provocative
things.' Literary Review 'Dazzlingly inventive.' The New York Times 'Clear
and lively . . . There is nothing quite like it.' Spectator 'A marvellous
study of the nature of translation . . . essential reading - in short, it
is a triumph.' Independent 'Enthralling . . . A wonderful celebration of
the sheer diversity of language.' Scotsman 'An exhilarating work that takes
up a subject we thought we understood - or knew we didn't - and then makes
us see it afresh.' Washington Post