Teenager translates Potter for Romania

A 17-year-old Romanian schoolgirl, who reads Charles Dickens and wants to study graphic design, is believed to be the youngest translator of Harry Potter books in the world.

Publishers chose Ioana Iepureanu to translate JK Rowland’s best selling books for her youthful spirit, her excellent command of English and Romanian, as well as a certain maturity.

It seems to be paying off.

‘‘She understands the spirit of children, is very intelligent and natural,’’ said Romanian publisher Liviu Moraru,.

At the launch of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Bucharest, children flocked to Ioana asking for her autograph.

‘‘I didn’t plan this as a way to stardom or success,’’ she said. ‘‘I just want people to appreciate the translation and rediscover the pleasure of reading.’’

Ioana said she translates a page in an average of 20 minutes and earns about 35p a page, but says money is not her main motivation.

She has spent most of her money on books by Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and WB Yeats. She’d like to study graphic design and English when she is older.

‘‘It is not an easy book to translate,’’ she concedes, explaining how she translated some names into Romanian, and left others in English.

‘‘Still, it’s not as difficult as Shakespeare.’’