David Luke: podcast appearances and interviews

David Luke is a professor in practice and strategic director at the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa at the London School of Economics. His role involves leading research and initiatives related to African studies within the LSE framework. As part of his academic work, he engages with issues pertinent to Africa and contributes to the institute's scholarly activities. Prior to his current position, Luke was a scholar of German literature at Christ Church, Oxford, where he gained recognition for his translations of notable authors including Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Thomas Mann, Heinrich von Kleist, Eduard Mörike, Adalbert Stifter, and the Brothers Grimm. His translation of Goethe's Faust earned him the European Poetry Translation Prize in 1989. In 2000, he received a medal of honour from the German-British Forum for his contributions to cultural relations between the United Kingdom and Germany. His translation work is noted for capturing Goethe's complex meanings and philosophical nuances, and has been praised for its faithfulness to the text's conflicts and contradictions. Luke described translation as the 'art of the least intolerable sacrifice,' highlighting his nuanced approach to the craft. Known for his love of Wagner's music and his friendships with prominent literary figures such as W. H. Auden and Iris Murdoch, Luke's career reflects a deep engagement with both literary and cultural exchange.