Lust in Translation: A Sultry Novel About Couples in Crisis

Katy Simpson Smith’s fifth novel, The Maltese Version, is a sophisticated exploration of modern intimacy and the complexities of translation. The narrative follows Leonie and Rhoda, two travel guide professionals who journey to Malta to locate a missing translator entangled with an enigmatic poet. Structured through shifting genres, the book examines how romantic partnerships often mirror the act of translating, where meaning is frequently lost or reinvented. Smith utilizes the Mediterranean setting to contrast contemporary American relationships against a backdrop of deep historical and linguistic tension. Ultimately, the story suggests that love is an ongoing, imperfect attempt to understand another person's internal language. This philosophical work balances sensual prose with a serious inquiry into whether we can ever truly know the people we desire.

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