Popular Fiction in Translation is an international conference organised by the Belgian research groups TRACE and CLIV, taking place at Ghent University, Belgium, from 10 to 12 September 2025.

The conference explores the global circulation of popular fiction through translation, a key factor in the international success of bestselling authors like Agatha Christie, Jules Verne, and Stephen King. Since the late eighteenth century, popular fiction has travelled widely across languages and media, yet its translation remains understudied.

Despite the growing academic interest in popular culture, translation studies has often favoured highbrow literature. This event responds to recent calls for a more inclusive approach by examining how popular fiction is translated, adapted, and received across time and media.

Covering genres such as crime, romance, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and more, the conference brings together scholars from translation studies, literary studies, and cultural studies. Topics include publishing practices, fan translation, the role of AI, historical translation dynamics, adaptation across media, narrative effects of translation, and ideological perspectives such as feminist, queer, or postcolonial approaches.

By focusing on popular fiction, the conference aims to expand our understanding of translation’s role in global literary and cultural exchange.

First published: 4 July 2025

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