Polly Barton
United KingdomauthorFemale8.0Global Dominance: 0.00%Polly Barton is an accomplished translator and first-time novelist, known for her work in bringing Japanese literature to English-speaking audiences. In her debut novel, 'What Am I, a Deer?', she tells the story of a woman who becomes obsessed with a man she sees on the tram while working as a translator for a gaming company in Frankfurt, exploring themes of desire and cultural dislocation.
Power1,283
Reach32,265
Country presence
Recent news mentions
Polly Barton selected and translated the stories into English.
From author to anime hero: the unlikely revival of a Japanese literary star | Fiction in translationThe Guardian·United Kingdom· 2026-07-26
United Kingdom· 2026-07-26
Polly Barton is the translator of Yuzuki's novel Hooked.
Asako Yuzuki: ‘I’m very far from the ideal Japanese woman’ | Fiction in translationThe Guardian·United Kingdom· 2026-02-28
United Kingdom· 2026-02-28
Barton is responsible for bringing one of the biggest books of recent years to UK audiences.
‘Like Kafka by way of Pedro Almodóvar’: 10 debut novels to look out for in 2026 | FictionThe Guardian·United Kingdom· 2025-12-26
United Kingdom· 2025-12-26
