About the Author

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Elizabeth is an academic who now lives in Italy, where she teaches English at the University of Pisa. She is a widely published writer of short stories, essays and translations of literary works into Italian. A Matter of Interpretation is her debut novel.

Reviews

`Mac Donald has succeeded in making the art of translation centre stage in a thrilling, witty, violent and mysterious debut filled with scheming characters.' - Jen Calleja, author and translator, Shortlisted for The Man Booker International Prize; 'The characters, setting and the issues at stake will all linger long after you've finished reading it.' - Domitilla Campanile, Professor of History, University of Pisa; 'In lush historic prose, Elizabeth Mac Donald leads the reader on a complex journey, where all interactions are tinged with superstition and suspicion.' - Nuala O'Connor, author of Becoming Belle; 'A fascinating sliver of history and a truly original book.' - Alan Robert Clark, author of The Prince of Mirrors; 'Mac Donald's style is crisp and captivating.' - Biancamaria Rizzardi, Professor of English Literature, University of Pisa; ''A Matter of Interpretation' is a complex tale of knowledge, power, intrigue and the struggle for supremacy between Church and State.' - 'The Irish Times'; 'Elizabeth Mac Donald knows how to grip the reader.' - 'The Tablet'; 'A Matter of Interpretation is a story about authority and corruption, knowledge and language, and written with impressive detail, giving a real flavour for what life in continental Europe might have resembled hundreds of years ago.' - Sophie Grenham, 'The Gloss'; 'This extraordinary novel ranges wide across the political and religious map of medieval Europe.' - Peter Sirr, Translator, Novelist and Award-Winning Poet; 'Mac Donald has an unerring eye for detail and memorable characters. Highly recommended.' - Lucinda Byatt, The Historical Novel Society; 'A book to read with a glass of port and a dagger nearby.' - George Szirtes, poet and translator