DIE GERMANISTIN: Riveting Forays into German-Language Literature by Sheridan Marshall. Tanja Howarth receives the Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria
On 2 December the Austrian Embassy in London bestowed one of its highest civilian honours – the Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria – on a remarkable figure in the world of literary publishing: Tanja Howarth. The award, presented by Austrian Ambassador Bernhard Wrabetz alongside the Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum, Katharina Kastner, recognises six decades of literary dedication, and especially Tanja’s pioneering work in promoting contemporary Austrian and German-language literature in the UK. This accolade is a long-overdue tribute to a life spent building bridges between literary cultures and bringing outstanding literature to new readers.
Tanja’s career in literary publishing began in London after moving from Graz, Austria, in the late 1950s. With language skills in German and French, she took her first job in publishing not as an agent, but in what she describes as a ‘girl Friday’ role for Abelard-Schumann: translating, typing correspondence, answering phones, and meeting authors. It was work, she later reflected, that confirmed for her that literary publishing was her “Bag for Life.”
Her innate talent for publishing led her to join A.M. Heath in 1961, where she learned the craft of literary agenting amidst some of the most important writers of the 1960s and beyond. Just a few years later, in 1968, she spotted a gap in the marketplace: German-language authors were poorly represented in the English-speaking world, despite their richness and significance. From a flat in Battersea, London, the Tanja Howarth Literary Agency was born, introducing German and other European authors to British publishers and helping to widen cultural horizons for English-language readers.
Over the years, Howarth’s agency played a crucial role in placing over 250 German-language titles into English translation, including notable works such as Perfume by Patrick Süskind and The Panama Papers by Bastian Obermayer and Frederik Obermaier. She also represented authors whose works span genres from literary fiction to crime, non-fiction and beyond, helping to establish German-language writing as a vital part of the global literary conversation.
But Howarth’s influence extends far beyond the books she has personally championed. In 1996 she was one of the founders of New Books in German – a project created to draw attention to outstanding contemporary literature from Austria, Germany and Switzerland, and to promote translation into English. Conceived at the Frankfurt Book Fair, New Books in German has become an indispensable resource for editors, publishers, translators and readers alike, significantly increasing the visibility of German-language authors in the English-speaking world, and a testament to Howarth’s lifelong belief in the power of literature to cross borders.
Even now, Tanja Howarth remains actively involved as a member of both the editorial and steering committees of New Books in German. Her vision, passion and tenacity have shaped not only careers but the very structures that support international literature in translation.
It was a privilege to see Tanja Howarth receive her award at the Austrian Embassy in London, and to listen to her talk about her extraordinary career. The wonderful evening was a fitting celebration of Tanja’s achievements, her tireless advocacy for authors, and her enduring legacy in the world of books.
By Sheridan Marshall
Sheridan Marshall works as a translator from German into English, and as Editorial Consultant for New Books in German. She was Deputy Editor of The Austrian Riveter.
Tanja Howarth being presented with her award by the Austrian Ambassador, Bernhard Wrabetz. Photo by Sheridan Marshall
Read previous posts in Die Germanistin series:
DIE GERMANISTIN: Riveting Forays into German-Language Literature by Sheridan Marshall. November 2023. Interview with Christine Koschmieder (at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2023)
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