Catullus: Shibari Carmina

Isobel Williams' Catullus: Shibari Carmina is a unique translation of Catullus, combining the struggle of translating with the tormented intelligence and romantic versatility of the poet. The book is filled with contemporary idioms and social media terminology, while Williams' drawings add immediacy and take an elliptical orbit around the Latin.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 112 pages
Publication date: 25 March 2021
Publisher: Carcanet Press Ltd

Carcanet publishes several Catulluses, including those by C.H. Sisson, Len Krisak, Simon Smith, and Isobel Williams. However, Williams' Catullus: Shibari Carmina stands out as distinct from the earlier versions. Translating Catullus has been a challenging endeavor for the translator, akin to engaging in a cage fight with two opponents. Not only is the translator a renowned poet, but they also carry the memories of their schoolgirl self, trained to demonstrate their knowledge of each word to the examiner. The presence of a third element, Catullus' tormented intelligence and romantic versatility, intensifies the struggle. This transformative encounter took place at a fetish venue in South London, reminiscent of Catullus' doomed obsessive love. Interestingly, someone at life class had mentioned a Japanese rope bondage (shibari) club called Bound, which piqued the translator's interest. They approached the management and were graciously welcomed, treated like the Queen Mother. Perhaps the most delightful aspect was that the schoolgirl was too young to enter the club, allowing the translator to immerse themselves fully in the world of shibari.

The dynamics of shibari liberated Catullus from conventional constraints, leading him to new rigors. The poet found context, metaphor, and idiom for Catullus, who could be described as a bisexual switch from the late Roman Republic when such concepts were meaningless. Catullus was a stern moralist who transformed into an anxious, bitchy dominant with boys and a howling sub with his nemesis, the older glamorous married woman he affectionately called Lesbia (referred to as Clodia in this text, which may have been her real name). The poet employs the terminology and forms of social media, a contemporary idiom that is simultaneously subjected to rigorous scholarship and tight syntactical discipline. All the crucial language knots are firmly established, restoring Catullus' laughter and enhancing the sense of Latin. The translator's dedication to their craft has resulted in a remarkable translation that brings Catullus to life in a fresh and captivating manner.

Weight: 148g
Dimension: 135 x 216 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800170742