This talk takes us inside the translation jury workshop to look at some of the issues juries face in singling out top contenders: What constitutes “quality” in translation? Are there objective criteria for judging translational quality that transcend “it’s all a matter of taste”? Is it important, or even desirable, to compare a translation to its source text? Do verbal pyrotechnics win out over “quiet” language? What are the goals of awarding translation prizes beyond honoring individual translators — showcasing outstanding works of literature, encouraging readership of world literature, bringing less translated literatures into the spotlight and/or drawing attention to the art and craft of translation itself? The talk will display selected passages from award-winning texts that made jurors swoon.