Colleagues of the two ‘experienced’ Dutch translators of Omid Scobie’s book say it’s ‘unthinkable’ the women added names of the two ‘royal racists’ into the transcript themselves
- READ: Scobie says he’s ‘as frustrated as everyone else’ after ‘royal racists’ named
Colleagues of the two ‘experienced’ Dutch translators of Omid Scobie’s book said it is ‘unthinkable’ the women added the names of the two ‘royal racists’ into the transcript themselves.
Saskia Peeters and Nellie Keukelaar-van Rijsbergern are named in the preface to the book ‘EndGame’ which was withdrawn from sale in Holland after two members of the royal family were named in the racism scandal engulging the group.
The publisher initially claimed the names were revealed due to a ‘translation’ mix up but later said an ‘error’ led to their printing on pages 128 and 324 of the book which has the title ‘Final Battle’ in Holland.
Colleagues who work translating books from English into Dutch told MailOnline it would be ‘unthinkable’ for the women to have chosen to insert the names themselves unless they were already in the manuscript.
Paul Janse, who runs a book translation service, said: ‘I find it really unthinkable that a translator would mention names that weren’t there in their English version, especially such a sensitive matter.
Saskia Peeters and Nellie Keukelaar-van Rijsbergern (pictured) are named in the preface to the book ‘End Game’
Omid Scobie (pictured) spoke about the royal book ‘translation error’ on live TV this morning
‘To me it does not make sense. As a book translator you work with what is in front of you.
‘I think they must have used a version with the names in it.’
Another experienced book translator based in Amsterdam also said the pair responsible for the Dutch version of ‘End Game’ would not have written the names unless they were in the manuscript already.
‘Why would they choose these particular names out of all of those they could use,’ said the translator.
READ MORE: Omid Scobie says he’s ‘as frustrated as everyone else’ after ‘royal racists’ were named in Dutch translation of Endgame – as he insists he’s been treated ‘unfairly’ and fails to apologise for scandal
‘They are very experienced professionals who have so many credits to their name. Why would they risk doing this and who is to say they got the right names.’
The two women credited with the translation have so far refused to comment.
Peters, who has run a translation service based in Arnhem, has 20 years experience translating manuscripts from English into Dutch.
On her LinkedIn page she lists fiction and non-fiction books as well as for children and youth books.
She also specialises in cook books with dozens translated from English into Dutch.
Her colleague Nellie Keukelaar -van Rijsbergern also has vast experience of translating famous authors, mostly focusing on fiction.
Her credits include Nicholas Spark’s ‘Dear John’ and Wilbur Smith’s ‘The Warriors Cry.’
The publishers of Scobie’s ‘poisonous’ book have refused to make any comment about the controversy.
A spokesman for Xander Uitgevers based in Haarlem said:’ There will be no further comment.’
All copies of the paperback book were removed from bookstores across Holland on Wednesday and will be back on sale on December 8th.
However, the controversy has so far failed to boost sales with bookstores not reporting any demand for advance orders.
Colleagues of the two ‘experienced’ Dutch translators of Omid Scobie’s book said it is ‘unthinkable’ the women added the names of the two ‘royal racists’ into the transcript themselves
The biggest bookstore in Holland – boasting enough books to cover 2.2km – only had seven orders prior to their being taken off the shelves.
A member of staff at Scheltema in Amsterdam city centre said they had not seen any surge in demand for the royal book.
Other stores in the city said they had not any advance orders for End Game.
Zoe Blauboer, assistant manager of the Scheltema bookstore, said it was unusual for a publisher to demand books be withdrawn the day they go on sale.
‘I’ve never come across such a thing. We just had an email from the publisher saying they were not to be sold and to send them back.
‘We did not have a big display planned, so it was not a problem.’
READ MORE: King brushes off Omid Scobie race row: Charles jokes ‘he’s alright… just about’ as Palace considers legal action – after Piers Morgan named two royals accused of racism
Other bookstore owners said the only time they could recall a similar incident was in the 1980s when ‘The Satanic Verses’ book had to be withdrawn.
Fred Lafire, who runs the Old English Bookshop, said:’ It is unusual for a publisher to recall a book as soon as it goes on sale.
‘The only other time I can recall was whe Salman Rushdie’s Satanic Verses came out and the cover had to be changed. That was back in the 1980s.’
Despite making headlines around the world over the racism scandal few people in Amsterdam were aware of the controversy.
Student Elena Giordano said she would not rush out to buy the book.
She said:’ ‘It is of little interest to people in Holland. We do know about Harry and Meghan and how they have attacked the royal family, but I doubt I will buy the book.’
Student Jette Calot said:’ We have our own royal family so we do no follow what happens in England that much,.
‘But it always seem to be about Harry and Meghan. I think they like putting themselves in the news.’
Her friend Julia Hassinla added: ‘I don’t think it is that interesting.’
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