News

Award of the John Dunmore Medal

4 September 2008

Byline:	Glynnis M. Cropp (Professor Emeritus, School of Language Studies, Massey University)
Source:	The Federation of Alliances Françaises of New Zealand

The Federation of Alliances Françaises of New Zealand has announced the award of the John Dunmore Medal 2008 to Dr Jean Anderson, Senior Lecturer in French and Director of the New Zealand Centre for Literary Translation, at Victoria University of Wellington.

In her work as a literary translator, Dr Anderson has made a significant contribution to knowledge of French literature of the Pacific, particularly by her translation of the first Tahitian novel: Island of Shattered Dreams (Huia Books, 2007), L’Ile des rêves écrasés, by Chantal Spitz. Other translations have enabled a wide English-language readership to become conversant with poetry and fiction by several French-speaking Pacific-based authors. In addition, she has collaborated with the French writers who have recently had a residency at the Randell Cottage, Wellington. In these ways she has extended and strengthened connections between the French-speaking world, the Pacific and New Zealand. The John Dunmore Medal is awarded annually in recognition of major contributions to knowledge and better understanding of the part played by the French people and French culture in the scientific, economic, historical and cultural development of the Pacific.