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Re: Tribulations - please MORE English JV translations

From: wbutcher <wbutcher~at~netvigator.com>
Date: Fri, 27 May 2011 09:21:00 +0800
To: "'Jules Verne Forum'" <jvf~at~gilead.org.il>

Cyrus,

 

I've already done The Tribulations! in the sense that, together with Wang
Rencai I published the first complete translation into Chinese, with a
substantive, well lengthy, introduction.

 

TCC was actually the first text proposed to OUP World's Classics, back in
1987-8 (not by me), but they counter-proposed selecting one of the more
canonical texts, perhaps wisely. Hatteras has not sold well, in print or
electronic form, and the books aim to remain in print for a generation; so
any successor would have to be a novel with an already established
reputation in the reading public, which would limit the choice.

 

In fact, realising the vital importance of establishing a proper text, and
of being at least aware of the often radical changes forced on Verne by
Hetzel, makes any edition and translation into a foreign language often seem
like a compromise. This resulted in my decision, a while back, to
concentrate on trying to restore what Verne actually wrote, in the original
text. In sum, I'm afraid I have no plans at present for major projects in
English.

 

Bill

http://www.ibiblio.org/julesverne/

1A, Kai Kuk Shue Ha, Luk Keng, North District, NT, HONG KONG

 

  _____

From: owner-jvf~at~Gilead.org.il [mailto:owner-jvf~at~Gilead.org.il] On Behalf Of
Cyrus
Sent: 26 May 2011 13:08
To: Jules Verne Forum
Subject: Tribulations - please MORE English JV translations

 

Bill,

 

Eager to hear status, if at all, on a Tribulations translation.

 

And thanks for the response.

 

Cyrus

 

 

On May 24, 2011, at 11:02 PM, wbutcher wrote:





It's a good question, and those five novels are well chosen. As you say,

part of the answer is commercial: most publishers will only take on projects

that they think will find sufficient readers. Another factor is the status

of translators, who don't always receive credit for their work, let alone

payment, although things have improved in recent years. In sum, we're a long

way away, I fear, from the Collected Works that exist for many other

novelists.

 

Bill

http://www.ibiblio.org/julesverne/

1A, Kai Kuk Shue Ha, Luk Keng, North District, NT, HONG KONG

 

-----Original Message-----

From: owner-jvf~at~Gilead.org.il [mailto:owner-jvf~at~Gilead.org.il] On Behalf Of

aynberg~at~lavabit.com

Sent: 25 May 2011 11:39

To: Jules Verne Forum

Subject: please MORE English JV translations

 

Dear JVF,

 

Interested to know of any future JV title translations.

 

And forgive the following naive question.

 

Why do the same five or so classic JV titles continue to be re-

translated, when there are dozens more we really, really, would like

to read?

 

Captain Grant

Michel Strogoff

Castle in The Carpathians

Hector Z

Robur

 

Et cetera, etc...

 

Univ of Nebraska, Wesleyan, Bison, etc,...have done superb,

outstanding editions. Money is a factor of course. However, it would

be wonderful to read all the Extraordinary Voyages in a lifetime.

 

Regards.

 

Cyrus

 

 
Received on Fri 27 May 2011 - 04:21:31 IDT

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