Born in Saarbrücken, Germany, in 1973, Isabelle Wagner studied English, German and American literature and obtained a Master's Degree from the Universität des Saarlandes. In the course of her studies, she spent time abroad in Ireland and the USA. Her interest in Sweden was first kindled by Astrid Lindgren's books, but it was only when she became acquainted with the work of 20th-century writer Karin Boye that she seriously began learning Swedish. Having worked in a wide range of professions including office administration, teaching and filling bagels, she discovered that literary translation was her true calling when she translated Mare Kandre's novel Aliide, Aliide.