The ‘Mouthfeel’ of Translation
Posted by: danhartland on: November 15, 2010
"I'm sorry, that number is ex-directory. What might this tell us about the incompleteness of history, and the impossibility of objective truth?"
This post is probably just as well suited to a tweet, so I invite you to parse any excessive verbiage as shameless breakage of the 140 character limit, and a sort of poor justification for blogging. Excellent.
I’d probably read Julian Barnes’s transcription of the phonebook, so his essay in the most recent LRB was a pleasure. Ostensibly a review of Lydia Davis’s new translation of Madame Bovary (he doesn’t like it), it’s also a lovely expression of the problems of translation. Coming from a noted Francophile, Barnes’s objection to Davis is perhaps surprising – it sticks too closely to the original French, rendering Flaubert’s supple prose stiff and clumsy in English. Go read. The review, that is, but if you haven’t alsoread the novel already – where have you been?
3 Responses to "The ‘Mouthfeel’ of Translation"
November 22, 2010 at 10:46 pm
How about coming back and letting us know what you make of Davis’s translation, Tom? Is Barnes right or wrong?
[...] written (albeit briefly) about translation before, but it struck me that in discussing The Prague Cemetery last week I didn’t mention the name [...]
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71 is the number of an apartment we return to regularly in Whinfell Forest, Cumbria. We like it there.
‘We’ are Anna French and Dan Hartland. The Story and the Truth is a sort of inadequate catch-all term for what goes on here: we tend to talk about novels, history, food and fashion, politics and music, but there may also be photographs of soft toys and musicians. Stick around and see.
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Words We Like
The Gentry, by Adam Nicolson
The denizen of Sissignhurst Castle is probably better placed than most to write a potted history of the gentry, or rather a selection of gentry families, but what emerges from this books is - unusual for Nicolson's supple, subtle style - a fairly uneven book. Some chapters - the story of the 15th century Plumptons, the 17th century Oxindens, or the Edwardian Liberal Aclands - are fascinating. Others - the Throckmortons, the Capels, the Hughses - are somehow less engaging. Worth dipping into, but somehow less than the sum of its parts. Read Arcadia instead.
Sounds We Like
The Lion's Roar, First Aid Kit
Anyone who remembers when Howling Bells were briefly interesting in 2006 will appreciate this record, which looks to establish firmer foundations for a fuller career. Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg offer very pretty folk harmonies with a lot of extra muscle, poppy melodies and an indie sensibility. The songwriting, arrangements and musicianship are all of a consistently high standard here, and The Lion's Roar is a record to sink into, and is somehow more convincing than Juanita Stein.
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November 16, 2010 at 8:53 am
I have Lydia Davis’ new transation on order (its published by Penguin on 25 November). Perhaps I’ll consider cancelling, but I’d like to read MB again anyway. Interesting article