tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305631555616445080.post4314271086290297600..comments2024-02-27T13:06:28.163+01:00Comments on love german books: Nonplussed by Men in Translationkjdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16236984779717127341noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305631555616445080.post-51252433742697988672008-03-18T21:08:00.000+01:002008-03-18T21:08:00.000+01:00I'm not sure you can compare the two - Keun writes...I'm not sure you can compare the two - Keun writes in what was very contemporary language at the time, whereas Sarah Waters' can only ever be an approximation. But perhaps the effect is similar - or should be if you follow that school of theory.kjdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16236984779717127341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305631555616445080.post-54441250112191682652008-03-14T10:31:00.000+01:002008-03-14T10:31:00.000+01:00It does seem bizarre when there's such a market fo...It does seem bizarre when there's such a market for historical fiction, and folk queue up to buy their Sarah Waters and Patrick O'Brian's, relishing the authentic slang.Bowleserisedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02974472204722759129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305631555616445080.post-73139427134591712052008-03-12T13:06:00.000+01:002008-03-12T13:06:00.000+01:00Yes, maybe that was the whole idea - I know, let's...Yes, maybe that was the whole idea - I know, let's make it really up-to-date, never mind all that 1920s stuff. The translator Kathie von Ankum writes: "...Doris features as a predecessor of the Bridget Joneses, the Carrie Bradshaws, and the shopaholic Rebecca Bloomwoods of our day." So no doubt some deliberate choices were made there that others might have done differently.<BR/>Still, it's a kjdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16236984779717127341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305631555616445080.post-14249700993406645712008-03-12T12:27:00.000+01:002008-03-12T12:27:00.000+01:00I bought it DESPITE the fact that someone on Radio...I bought it DESPITE the fact that someone on Radio 4 described it as a Weimar Bridget Jones, or some such nonsense. That could be the fault of the translation.Bowleserisedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02974472204722759129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305631555616445080.post-49291723689107565132008-03-12T09:22:00.000+01:002008-03-12T09:22:00.000+01:00Oh, yes, that's a gorgeous book, great fun. I foun...Oh, yes, that's a gorgeous book, great fun. I found the translation slightly too modern, though.<BR/><BR/>But you can now get Keun's "Child of All Nations" in Michael Hofmann's no doubt excellent translation from Penguin Classics. I think I'll order it right now.kjdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16236984779717127341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305631555616445080.post-70021670828878454672008-03-12T09:17:00.000+01:002008-03-12T09:17:00.000+01:00The Artifical Silk Girl is on my reading pile. I'm...The Artifical Silk Girl is on my reading pile. I'm looking forward to it.Bowleserisedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02974472204722759129noreply@blogger.com