In Praise of Wisdom…and Another Shortlist and a Prize for Elsa!

The oldest known wild bird laid an egg

Researchers have been tracking an albatross named Wisdom since 1956, when she was 5 and Dwight Eisenhower was president. Her longevity has for decades amazed scientists, who expect birds like her to live closer to 30 years. Then, last week, she stunned them again by laying an egg at age 74.

If the egg hatches, Wisdom will become a mother for the 30th time or so. Albatrosses usually mate for life, but scientists say she has outlived at least three of her mates.

And Elsa won the American Literary Translators Association Award for Italian Prose in Translation!

2024 Italian prose in translation award Winner  

Lies and Sorcery by Elsa Morante, translated from Italian by Jenny McPhee
New York Review Books | Penguin Classics UK (forthcoming)

Find the full list of past winners and judges here.