Recent intern Sarah Wolbach reflects on her stint with New Books in German
What is your professional background?
I’m American but have lived and studied in Germany for over five years, which is where my interest in German literature and translation began. In Spring 2024, I completed my BA in Humanities with a concentration in Literature and Rhetoric at Bard College Berlin. I also had the opportunity to intern at Aufbau Verlag in the Foreign Rights department. I moved to the UK after completing my degree and am currently about to start my MA in Publishing at Manchester Metropolitan University.
How did you first hear about New Books in German?
It was either during a university course I took on the contemporary German literary sphere or through my internship in the foreign rights department at Aufbau Verlag in Berlin — I can’t remember which came first! I found that once I had heard the name, it kept popping up in more and more conversations — it really is an invaluable resource in the international publishing sphere.
What have you enjoyed most about your internship with New Books in German?
Although I was unfortunately unable to join in person, I really enjoyed the insights from the final jury meeting. It was fascinating to watch so many knowledgeable people debate books in what was nevertheless a very friendly and collegial atmosphere. It was invigorating, and confirmed for me that this is the career path I want to pursue!
What have you learned during the internship?
I think my time at NBG has been eye-opening in terms of becoming aware of how many forces are at play in a field like publishing, even more so on an international scale. The matter of translating a book is not as simple as flipping a language switch — the cultural differences between the two markets ideally also need to be accounted for and acknowledged. This issue of cultural gaps was something that came up a lot specifically in the final jury meeting, but is a perennially important consideration in fields like Foreign Rights.
Do you have a favourite from the books the jury selected and why?
I’m really interested in Katja Oskamp’s Die vorletzte Frau, as it deals with topics I love reading about, namely female protagonists grappling with their relationships to themselves and others. Hengameh Yaghoobifarah’s Schwindel is also a book that I have started reading and am enjoying from this selection period.
Which book would you most like to translate?
I would love to translate anything by Caroline Wahl. I’ve really enjoyed her work and I think it would resonate with readers in the English-language market.
Thanks Sarah for your hard work and enthusiasm and all the best with your MA course!
