The recent media uproar over the inclusion of names of controversial royals in the Dutch translation of “Endgame” has prompted the translator, Saskia Peeters, to finally share her perspective on the matter.
Addressing her decision to incorporate the names, Peeters stated, “As a translator, I translate what is in front of me.” She clarified that the names of the royals were already present in the original text, and she did not introduce them herself. “I just did what I was paid to do and that was translate the book from English into Dutch,” she emphasized.
Responding to claims made by the author, Scobie, who asserted that he never disclosed any names for legal reasons, Peeters expressed uncertainty, saying, “I don’t know why he would say that.” Highlighting the unprecedented nature of this incident in her translation career, she added, “This is not something I wanted to be involved in. This has been upsetting. I do not want to talk about it much more.”
These statements from the translator come after Scobie’s assertion on ITV that he never included specific names in the book due to legal considerations. “I never submitted a book that had those names in it,” he clarified during the interview.
The controversy surrounding the translated version of “Endgame” has led to the recall of over 5,000 copies, with bookstores instructed to remove the paperback edition from shelves. The unfolding situation has ignited discussions within media and literary circles, underscoring the complexities of translation, authorship, and the legal implications surrounding such controversies. As the story continues to develop, it raises important questions about responsibility and accountability in the collaborative process of bringing a book to a global audience.
