How to Cite a Translated Book in Harvard

In Harvard referencing, citing a translated book involves crediting the original author and also the translator. It is necessary to include information such as the author’s name, the date when the translation was published, the title in translation, the translator’s name, the publication place, and the publisher.

Full Citation Elements

Every element of the citation is vital:

  • Author Name: Use the original author’s last name and first letter if it is a person, or full name if it is an organization.
  • Year of Translation (in round brackets): Publisher’s date of issue of the translation, not that of the initial edition.
  • Title (in italics): English book title of the translated work, with subtitles, italicized.
  • Translated by: Include the words “Translated by” to introduce the name of the translator.
  • Translator Name: Insert the initials of the first and middle names of the translator, then the full surname.
  • Place of Publication: Translated edition publisher’s city of publication.
  • Publisher: The company or organization that publishes the translated book.

Translated Book Citation Example

Citation
Saramago, J. (1997) Blindness. Translated by G. Pontiero. New York, NY: Harcourt.
Structure
Author Surname, Author Initial. (Year of Translation) Title. Translated by Translator Initial. Translator Surname. Place of Publication: Publisher.

In-Text Citation Examples

In-text citations follow the standard Harvard book citation style. 

Parenthetical Style

Example (Saramago, 1997)
Structure (Author Surname, Year)

Narrative Style

Example Saramago (1997)
Structure Author Surname (Year)

Use the English Title of the Translation: Always include the title in the translated book whenever you’re quoting a translated book. Never place or translate the title of the original work from the source language except if it’s part of the translated edition. This ensures consistency and helps avoid misleading readers when looking for the version that you used.

Cite Only the Translation Used: If multiple translations of one text exist, cite only the version you used. The different translations may have variations in wording, tone, or interpretation, and one must credit the particular translator whose work one has used. This is for research accuracy and research transparency.

Avoid Mentioning the Date of Original Publication: Harvard citations only mention the publication year of the translation. The original publication year must not be included in the reference or in-text citation unless the assignment or specific institution requirement specifically requires it. This avoids confusion and keeps the citation in accord with the edition utilized.

Keep the Other Book References the Same: Make sure that your citation is punctuated, spaced, and formatted as has been done in your reference list. This means italicizing the titles of books, applying the sentence case, and ending each citation element with a full stop. Consistency enhances readability and ensures academic standards are kept.

Put the Source in the Reference List Only Once: Do not have two listings for the original and translation versions. Just mention the translated version you used in your work. To list more than one is confusing and implies you used more than one source, which you may not have. One good reference will suffice.

 

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Tomas Elliott (Ph.D.)

Tomas Elliott is an assistant Professor of English at Northeastern University London. His research specialisms include the history of theatre and film, European modernism, world literature, film adaptation, transmedia studies and citation practices. He read English and French Literature at Trinity College, Oxford, before completing a PhD in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory at the University of Pennsylvania.

Learn how to cite in Harvard