'Nothing is forever'

On translating from German to English, and enjoying reading women novelists who write about relationships

- Chintan Girish Modi

What made you translate Kairos?

I was asked for by the author. That counts for a lot, at least with me. If someone knows enough to ask for me, then I will be disposed to try and give them my work. Also, I see part of my work as a translator as informing on Germany.

Germany has changed a lot over the last 40 years. It has become more stable and more comfortable in the world. I never thought it would be. It is important to tell Germans this. For a long time, our world could be divided into East and West Germany, like North and South Korea. There are junctures and fissures in the world that we come to terms with, especially through books that address those divides.