Tim Mohr, the acclaimed author and translator, has left a lasting impact on both the literary and music worlds. Best known for his nonfiction book Burning Down the Haus: Punk Rock, and Revolution: Fall of the Berlin Wall, which Rolling Stone named one of the “Best Books of the Year,” Mohr also co-wrote the memoirs of notable musicians, including Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses, KISS frontman Paul Stanley, and helped complete the memoir of Gil Scott-Heron.
In the realm of literary translation, Mohr was highly regarded for his work translating German to English, particularly championing the voices of female writers and lesser-known authors. Michael Reynolds, executive publisher of Europa Editions, reflected on Mohr’s commitment to diversifying the world of literary translation. “Tim took issue with the dominance of white male voices in the field and was determined to establish his reputation as a translator of female voices and voices from outside the mainstream,” Reynolds noted in a memorial article.
Mohr’s translation portfolio includes seven novels by Alina Bronsky for Europa, as well as works by Charlotte Roche (Wetlands and Wrecked), Stefanie de Velasco (Tiger Milk), Alex Beer (The Second Rider), Wolfgang Herrndorf (Sand), and Dorothea Dieckmann (Guantanamo), the inaugural winner of the Best Translated Book Award in 2008.
Before his translation career, Mohr was a DJ in Berlin during the 1990s, a period that influenced his book Burning Down the Haus. He later worked as a journalist, contributing to Details, New York, New York Review of Books, and Playboy. His transition to literary translation began in 2004 during a Playboy assignment in Aspen, where he met Hunter S. Thompson. As Mohr described in Literary Hub, “As I continued to translate, I found my life enriched in ways I wouldn’t have anticipated.”
Riky Stock, business development representative for the Frankfurter Buchmesse, worked with Mohr on various literary initiatives, including New Books in German and the Frankfurt International Translators program. Stock fondly remembered Mohr as “an amazing translator, a great ambassador of German literature, and a wonderful person.” He also recalled a memorable event they shared at the 2023 Frankfurt Book Fair, where Mohr captivated the audience with his insights.
Mohr’s legacy as a translator and author extends beyond his work; his generosity, wit, and dedication to his craft will continue to resonate with those who knew him.
