Thomas Mann in English: A Study in Literary Translation
Author(s): David Horton (Author)
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Publication Date: 11 April 2013
Language: English
Print length: 260 pages
ISBN-10: 1441167986
ISBN-13: 9781441167989
Book Description
Thomas Mann owes his place in world literature to the dissemination of his works through translation. Indeed, it was the monumental success of the original English translations that earned him the title of ‘the greatest living man of letters’ during his years in American exile (1938-52). This book provides the first systematic exploration of the English versions, illustrating the vicissitudes of literary translation through a principled discussion of a major author. The study illuminates the contexts in which the translations were produced before exploring the transformations Mann’s work has undergone in the process of transfer. An exemplary analysis of selected textual dimensions demonstrates the multiplicity of factors which impinge upon literary translation, leading far beyond the traditional preoccupation with issues of equivalence. Thomas Mann in English thus fills a gap both in translation studies, where Thomas Mann serves as a constant but ill-defined point of reference, and in literary studies, which has focused increasingly on the author’s wider reception.
Editorial Reviews
Review
‘Mann’s worldwide reputation as one of the preeminent figures in twentieth-century literature rests on the dissemination of his works through the medium of translation. Horton’s subject is thus an important one. He approaches it with great expertise in the fields of translation studies and cross-linguistic and intercultural transfer. His analysis is grounded not only theoretically, but also in a thorough knowledge of Mann’s works. Anyone interested in Mann and the literary and linguistic aspects of the transformation a text undergoes in the process of translation will profit from this meticulously argued study.’ — Jens Rieckmann, Emeritus Professor Of German, University Of California, Irvine, USA
‘Thomas Mann is regarded as the most erudite author of German literature in the first part of the twentieth century as well as the most eloquent explicator of its cultural traditions and political trials and tribulations. His relatively early rise to international recognition became only possible through the timely translations and consecutive re-translations of his work into English. David Horton’s study is the first comprehensive account and assessment of this complex history of translation and subsequent transculturation of Thomas Mann’s work into the English language. By interrogating a variety of theoretical models, Horton provides pertinent frames and focal perspectives to illuminate the multifaceted aspects of this elaborate process.’ —
Frederick Lubich, Professor Of German, Old Dominion University, USA
About the Author
David Horton teaches English Translation Studies at Saarland University, Germany
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