Nicolas Auzanneau has been connected to Latvia since 1996 when he came here after completing his studies to work for the Cultural department of the French embassy. In 1997, translator and publisher Inta Geile brought him onto work on a Latvian literature anthology in French, followed by a selection of short stories by Ēriks Adamsons. For many years, translating literature was nothing more than a hobby, but since 2014 it has become his main activity. He translates both Latvian classics and contemporary authors from all genres – prose, poetry, theatre, but also non-fiction, history, and the social sciences. In recent years, he published translations in French of Rainis’s Castagnola, Jānis Joņevs’s Jelgava 94 (Metal in French), short stories from Andra Neiburga and Juris Zvirgzdiņš, and some poems. He is currently working on translations of Jānis Veselis’s novel Dienas krusts (The Day of the Cross) and Rūdolfs Blaumanis’s famous play Skroderdienas Silmačos (The Tailor’s Days in the House of Silmači) and is looking forward to someday publishing an anthology of Latvian modern poetry. His blog latviski > franciska is dedicated to the translation of Latvian literature into French.
The translators’ assembly shares ideas and practical advice // Baltics News, May 2023 [EN]
![](/upload/ll_translations/27/thumb/Metal_Jonevs.jpg)
Metal
Metal (Jelgava 94)
![Metal_Jonevs.jpg](/upload/ll_translations/27/thumb/Metal_Jonevs.jpg)
Title
: MetalTitle*
: Jelgava 94Authors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Fiction
Language
:French
Publisher
:Gaïa Editions, France
Pages
:384
Year
:2016
Copyrights
:Jānis Joņevs, Mansards
Synopsis
:Set in the 1990s, the story is centered on the rather short-lived craze for the allternative culture of heavy metal music.
![](/upload/ll_translations/148/thumb/pastore_fr.jpeg)
À la recherche du singe perdu
À la recherche du singe perdu (Pazudušais pērtiķis)
![pastore_fr.jpeg](/upload/ll_translations/148/thumb/pastore_fr.jpeg)
Title
: À la recherche du singe perduTitle*
: Pazudušais pērtiķisAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:French
Pages
:68
Year
:2018
Copyrights
:Author, Illustrator
Synopsis
:The ‘Art Detectives’ series of detective stories for children invites them to explore behind-the-scenes of art and visit the adventure and mystery-filled world ‘on the other side’ of paintings. Can a work of art come alive?
![](/upload/ll_translations/330/thumb/OZebris_GailuKalnaEna_french.jpg)
A l'ombre de la Butte-aux-Coqs
A l'ombre de la Butte-aux-Coqs (Gaiļu kalna ēnā )
![OZebris_GailuKalnaEna_french.jpg](/upload/ll_translations/330/thumb/OZebris_GailuKalnaEna_french.jpg)
Title
: A l'ombre de la Butte-aux-CoqsTitle*
: Gaiļu kalna ēnāAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Fiction
Language
:French
Publisher
:Agullo Editions, France
Pages
:260
Year
:2020
Copyrights
:The author, the publisher
Synopsis
:It is 1905 in Riga – the Russian Tsar is slowly losing power over his vast empire, and the city is being rocked by worker riots, violence and pogroms.
![](/upload/ll_translations/386/thumb/E.Braslina_JacobMimi_french_LaPasteque.jpg)
Jacob, Mimi et les chiens parlants
Jacob, Mimi et les chiens parlants (Runājošie suņi)
![E.Braslina_JacobMimi_french_LaPasteque.jpg](/upload/ll_translations/386/thumb/E.Braslina_JacobMimi_french_LaPasteque.jpg)
Title
: Jacob, Mimi et les chiens parlantsTitle*
: Runājošie suņiAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:French
Pages
:64
Year
:2021
Synopsis
:Talking dogs live in an unusual area of Riga, commonly known as the Maskacka. They are its guards, who do not miss the arrival of Jacob Putn, a boy from the centre of Riga.
![](/upload/ll_translations/524/thumb/french.jpg)
La Petite fille qui voulait devenir grand-père
La Petite fille qui voulait devenir grand-père (Kate, kas gribēja kļūt par vectēvu)
![french.jpg](/upload/ll_translations/524/thumb/french.jpg)
Title
: La Petite fille qui voulait devenir grand-pèreTitle*
: Kate, kas gribēja kļūt par vectēvuAuthors
: ,Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:French
Pages
:32
Year
:2023
Copyrights
:the author, the illustrator
Synopsis
:The book tells the story of the passionate and determined Kati and her peaceful grandfather.
![](/upload/ll_translations/526/thumb/9782226476296-j.jpg)
Attention... J'arrive !
Attention... J'arrive ! (Eju meklēt!)
![9782226476296-j.jpg](/upload/ll_translations/526/thumb/9782226476296-j.jpg)
Title
: Attention... J'arrive !Title*
: Eju meklēt!Authors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:French
Pages
:Year
:2022
Copyrights
:the author
Synopsis
:This book is about a little girl named Vilma who plays hide-and-seek with her dad. On each page the reader can open little doors and see who’s hiding behind them.
![](/upload/ll_translations/530/thumb/unnamed (8).1685439471.jpg)
Adultes
Adultes (Pieaugušie)
![unnamed (8).1685439471.jpg](/upload/ll_translations/530/thumb/unnamed%20(8).1685439471.jpg)
Title
: AdultesTitle*
: PieaugušieAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:French
Publisher
:Le Boustrographe
Pages
:Year
:2023
Copyrights
:The author
Synopsis
:Poetry by Kārlis Vērdiņš
![](/upload/ll_translations/556/thumb/Antologija_FRA.jpg)
Nouvelles de Lettonie
Nouvelles de Lettonie (Stāstu krājums)
![Antologija_FRA.jpg](/upload/ll_translations/556/thumb/Antologija_FRA.jpg)
Title
: Nouvelles de LettonieTitle*
: Stāstu krājumsAuthors
: , , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:French
Publisher
:Éditions Magellan & Cie
Pages
:144
Year
:2023
Copyrights
:The authors
![](/upload/ll_translations/601/thumb/Screenshot 2024-08-07 130227.png)
À l’ombre de la mort
À l’ombre de la mort (Nāves ēnā)
![Screenshot 2024-08-07 130227.png](/upload/ll_translations/601/thumb/Screenshot%202024-08-07%20130227.png)
Title
: À l’ombre de la mortTitle*
: Nāves ēnāAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Fiction
Language
:French
Publisher
:Éditions DO
Pages
:104
Year
:2024
Copyrights
:The author
Synopsis
:This short story masterpiece tells of several fishermen lost at sea after the ice floe on which they work calves off and drifts away rapidly. One by one, the thirteen men and a boy must deal with the creeping reality that they may not see the mainland.
![](/upload/ll_translations/622/thumb/Screenshot 2024-11-06 155051.png)
Tigre
Tigre (Tīģeris)
![Screenshot 2024-11-06 155051.png](/upload/ll_translations/622/thumb/Screenshot%202024-11-06%20155051.png)
Title
: TigreTitle*
: TīģerisAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Short Stories
Language
:French
Publisher
:Les Argonautes
Pages
:240
Year
:2024
Copyrights
:The author
Synopsis
:The twelve short stories in Tiger are joined by a common thread: each and every protagonists has a strong desire, a dream that seems impossible. But they end up coming true in unexpected ways, putting forth the question of what it is each of us , desires