Günter Grass: The New "Tin Drum" Translation and Übersetzertreffen
In his recent book review of the new English translation of "The Tin Drum," Michael Dirda writes:
Grass has grown increasingly involved in the foreign versions of his work, going so far as to organize Übersetzertreffen -- short convocations of his translators -- at which he fields questions about his various books. From his experience of these meetings, Grass persuaded his publishers to commission a new English version of "The Tin Drum" from the distinguished Germanist Breon Mitchell.
It is refreshing to know that there are authors who understand the benefits of actually meeting with their translators.
Three things came to mind as I read this piece:
--- Have there been any such "TranslatorFests" in China to date?
--- I have heard occasionally of programs for literary translators in Europe, which feature an invitation to live for a few months (expenses paid) in the country whose language/culture the translator regularly interprets/translates for others. Do China, Hong Kong or Taiwan have such a program?
--- If you could re-translate any piece of modern Chinese writing, which one, and why?
Chinese Books, English Reviews
By Bruce Humes, October 23, 10:40p.m.