Classics in Modernist Translation

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 07 February 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

This groundbreaking volume offers a fresh perspective on a rich tapestry of early 20th-century engagements with the literature of Graeco-Roman antiquity, which had a profound influence on the development of anglophone literary modernism. The essays in this collection shine a spotlight on the concept of "translation," which the modernists themselves employed to grapple with the Classics and signify a diverse spectrum of receptions, ranging from more literal to more liberal translations, as well as forms of adaptation, reconfiguration, and intervention that are recognized in contemporary reception studies.

As the essays in this volume unveil, modernist translations of Classical texts played a crucial role in shaping the innovations of numerous modernists and often constituted modernist literary projects in their own right. Thus, this volume responds to both gaps in Classical reception and Modernist studies. The essays explore a relatively understudied area in Classical reception by reviving work in a subfield of Modernist studies that has been relatively inactive in recent decades but has recently experienced a resurgence of interest thanks to the contributions of the contributors to this volume.

The volumes essays address a wide range of modernist writers who were deeply influenced by Classical materials, including Homer, Sophocles, Euripides, Sappho, Ovid, and Propertius. These writers encompass a diverse spectrum of modernist movements, including Pound and H.D., who are renowned for their work engaging with the Classics, as well as Cummings, Eliot, Joyce, Laura Riding, and Yeats.

By delving into the complexities of translation and reception, this volume provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the interconnections between ancient and modern literature, culture, and society. It sheds light on the ways in which modernist writers sought to reimagine and reinterpret the Classics, employing innovative techniques and approaches to forge new literary forms and meanings. The essays also offer insights into the broader cultural and historical contexts in which these translations were produced and consumed, highlighting the ways in which they contributed to the development of modernist aesthetics, politics, and ideology.

In conclusion, this volume is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersections of literature, history, and culture in the early 20th century. It offers a rich and nuanced exploration of the complex relationships between the Classics and modernist literature, providing a valuable resource for scholars, students, and enthusiasts alike.

Weight: 552g
Dimension: 240 x 160 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350040953