International Booker Prize-winning translator Daisy Rockwell told audiences at Sharjah International Book Fair 2026 that literary translation involves recreating an entire novel. She explored the creative decisions behind Tomb of Sand, the limitations of artificial intelligence and why aspiring writers must make time for creativity.
SHARJAH: International Booker Prize-winning translator Daisy Rockwell has explained why literary translation is much more than replacing words between languages, describing the process as writing an entirely new novel that preserves the meaning and spirit of the original.
Speaking at the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026), the American writer, artist and Hindi-Urdu translator shared insights into the creative choices, cultural understanding and linguistic challenges involved in bringing literature to new audiences.
“When you translate, you are literally building a new novel, because you are writing in a new language that has its unique words and meanings,” Rockwell told the audience.
Why translating a novel requires creative judgement
Rockwell explained that her fascination with languages began through studying Latin, ancient Greek, German and French before learning Hindi at university.
Her interest in grammar and the connections between words continues to influence the books she chooses to translate.
“I have to be intrigued by the way that the author is using language,” she said, explaining that translators must develop a deep connection with books they may read repeatedly throughout the process.
For Rockwell, successful literary translation depends on understanding not only what an author writes but also the cultural and emotional meanings behind individual expressions.
How Tomb of Sand became an award-winning translation
Rockwell discussed her celebrated English translation of Geetanjali Shree’s Hindi novel Ret Samadhi, published as Tomb of Sand, which won the 2022 International Booker Prize.
She explained that the Hindi word samadhi carries several meanings, including a memorial, a final resting place and a heightened state of meditation.
Finding an English title that reflected these interpretations presented a considerable challenge.
Although Shree preferred retaining the original word, Rockwell selected Tomb of Sand and included five dictionary definitions of samadhi at the beginning of the English edition.
The decision allowed readers to discover the word’s cultural significance as the story developed.
Can AI replace human literary translators?
Addressing artificial intelligence, Rockwell highlighted the importance of human judgement when translating culturally complex language.
Referring to her decision about the novel’s title, she said: “That’s an example of something that AI is not going to do for you.”
She also encouraged aspiring writers to establish daily creative routines, even when inspiration is lacking, stressing that consistent practice strengthens writing skills.
Impact to expect
Rockwell’s insights could encourage greater appreciation of literary translation across the UAE’s publishing and cultural communities. Her discussion highlights the importance of human creativity in preserving linguistic diversity while introducing international literature to wider audiences.
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority, SIBF 2026 runs at Expo Centre Sharjah from November 4 to 15, featuring more than 1.7 million titles from 3,212 publishers and exhibitors across 126 countries.
