Translating Dan Brown was like ‘being imprisoned’

ISTANBUL

The latest mystery thriller novel by Dan Brown, “Origin,” the fifth installment in his Robert Langdon series, went on shelves yesterday in 13 countries including Turkey.

The novel’s translation and publication processes were carried out in strict confidence in the 13 countries.

Published by Altın Kitaplar Publishing House in Turkey, the book was translated by Petek Demir İncek and edited by Hülya Şat. During the translation process, Demir and Şat worked in a secret office in an unnamed country for two months with other translators.

“We have announced it for the first time here. We were in Barcelona. We had a depressing summer,” İncek and Şat told the daily Hürriyet, revealing for the first time the country from where they worked on the novel.

“Security was stricter this time. Every time we left the office, it was recorded. We were not allowed to take our electronic tools with us, not even to wear watches. We kept our phones in cabinets before entering the office. We were not allowed to talk to anyone other during the day. I missed my husband so much. It was the most difficult part. In the previous translation process, I had worked with my sister but this time I was alone,” said İncek about the details of their working environment.

Şat said they worked in the center of one of the largest media groups in Spain, GrupoPlaneta in Barcelona.

“We were all in the same room and everyone had a computer. As a security measure, our computers did not have Internet. As editors and translators for 13 countries, we had to take turns sharing three to four computers for the Internet. There were female security guards and they were not happy with our presence there,” she said