Bard Professor Emeritus Peter Filkins Awarded Freudenheim Translation Prize

Peter Filkins, professor emeritus at Bard College, has been awarded the inaugural Freudenheim Translation Prize, presented by the Jewish Literary Foundation in partnership with the Times Literary Supplement. This new international award, which is the largest offered by the foundation, celebrates excellence in translated fiction and nonfiction, highlighting the power of Jewish literature to engage diverse audiences. Filkins, who was also formerly Richard B. Fisher Professor of Literature at Bard College at Simon’s Rock and visiting professor of literature at Bard, is recognized for his translation of The Book Against Death by Elias Canetti, published in the U.K. by Fitzcarraldo Editions in 2024. In the judges’ citation, chair Boyd Tonkin praised Peter’s “masterly translation,” noting how his thoughtful and deeply attentive rendering brings Canetti’s reflections on life and death vividly into English. 

The Literature Program at Bard emphasizes cultural, linguistic, and geographic diversity, challenging national, cultural, and disciplinary boundaries.

Post Date: 02-24-2026