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.

`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 rich tapestry full of period detail with something of modern film technique and a touch of Dante in its storytelling, A Matter of Interpretation moves on its luminous and mysterious way through church and high state intrigue. A book to read with a glass of port and a dagger nearby' -George Szirtes, poet and translator