A poem published in a Bucharest literary review in 1988 marked the debut of Linda Maria Baros. Since then, the Bucharest-born writer has developed a cross-cultural body of work as a poet, translator, and critic, building a literary presence that spans more than 25 countries and has earned several international accolades.
Academic and Professional Trajectory
Educated at the University of Paris and the Paris-Sorbonne University, Baros holds a PhD in Comparative Literature, completed summa cum laude in 2011. Her career encompasses significant administrative and editorial roles, including general secretary of the Guillaume Apollinaire Prize and editor-in-chief of the literary review La traductière since 2013. She has served as an assistant professor in France and as a member of the Académie Mallarmé.
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Baros has authored multiple collections, including The Book of Signs and Shadows and The House Made of Razor Blades, the latter of which appeared in translation across Bulgaria, Latvia, and Romania. Beyond her own writing, she has organized poetry festivals across Romania, the Republic of Moldavia, and Australia, and has participated in over 500 poetry readings worldwide. In 2011, the Arthur Rimbaud Museum commissioned a stainless steel sculpture featuring her verse.
Translation and Editorial Influence
Her work as a translator covers over 30 books, bridging Romanian and various languages including French, English, and Spanish. She has translated authors such as Nichita Stănescu, Boris Vian, and Henri Michaux. In 2008, she established La Bibliothèque Zoom, a virtual library providing access to the works of 140 authors, further expanding the reach of contemporary literature.
Fast facts
- Born: 1981, Bucharest
- Citizenship: France and Romania
- Prix Guillaume Apollinaire: 2007
- Arthur Rimbaud prize: 2021
- Member of Académie Mallarmé: Since 2013
- PhD: Paris-Sorbonne University and University of Bucharest, 2011
- Member of Romanian Writers' Union: Since 2002
Questions readers ask
In which languages does Linda Maria Baros write?
She primarily writes in French.
What is the scope of her translation work?
She has translated over 30 books, moving between Romanian, French, English, Spanish, and Dutch.
Achievements
- Arthur Rimbaud prize — 2021
- Prize for the Vocation to Poetry — 2004
