Sophie Hughes

Sophie Hughes is an acclaimed British literary translator who is celebrated for her vibrant and fearless translations of contemporary literature, primarily from Spanish to English. Her work has introduced English-speaking audiences to the voices of some of Latin America's most influential and original writers, including Fernanda Melchor, Alia Trabucco Zerán, Rodrigo Hasbún, Laia Jufresa and Enrique Vila-Matas.

In 2025, Hughes further extended her linguistic reach with Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico — her first published translation from Italian — which earned her a fifth nomination for the International Booker Prize, more than any other translator to date.

Born in Chertsey, Surrey, in 1986, Sophie Hughes graduated from University College London with an MA in Comparative Literature in 2011. She began her career as a translator while living in Mexico City, where she worked as an editor for Asymptote and contributed to Words Without Borders, English PEN and The Guardian. Her debut book-length translation, The Boy Who Stole Attila's Horse by Iván Repila, appeared in 2015, marking the beginning of a prolific and widely acclaimed career.

Hughes's translations have been shortlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award, the Valle Inclán Prize, and the National Book Award for Translated Literature. In 2021, she will receive the prestigious Queen Sofía Translation Prize. Her collaborative spirit has led her to co-translate works with luminaries such as Margaret Jull Costa, Amanda Hopkinson and Juana Adcock.

Beyond translation, Hughes is a passionate advocate of literary accessibility. She has worked with the Stephen Spender Trust to promote translation in schools and co-edited Europa28: Writing by Women on the Future of Europe, published in association with the Hay Festival. Her writing and translations have appeared in The Paris Review, The White Review, McSweeney's, Frieze and The New York Times.

Hughes sees translation as not a mechanical act but a profoundly creative one — a collaborative reconstruction of a writer's style and sensibility. Her nuanced work in Perfection reflects this philosophy, balancing instinct with meticulous care and demonstrating her remarkable sensitivity to language and tone.

Sophie Hughes lives in Trieste.

Photo credit: thebookerprizes.com