Fixers: Agency, Translation, and the Early Global History of Literature

Zrinka Stahuljak's book "Fixers" challenges scholars to rethink how ideas and texts circulated in the medieval world, proposing that translators and interpreters played diverse, active roles as mediators of cultures, providing insider information, local guides, knowledge brokers, art distributors, and political players.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 26 January 2024
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

In her groundbreaking work,Zrinka Stahuljak challenges scholars in medieval and translation studies to reexamine the intricate dynamics of ideas and texts in the medieval world. Conventional perspectives often portray translators as mere intermediaries, transmitting the author's intentions without adding their own creative interpretations. However, Stahuljak presents a fresh perspective rooted in the term "fixer," borrowed from journalism. By employing this term, she captures the diverse and active roles played by medieval translators and interpreters as cultural mediators. These roles encompassed a wide range of responsibilities, including acting as insider informants, local guides, knowledge brokers, art distributors, and political players.

Through her meticulous research and compelling analysis, Stahuljak offers a groundbreaking new history of literature, art, translation, and social exchange. Rather than focusing solely on the author or the state, she presents a perspective from the viewpoint of the fixer, highlighting the intricate web of relationships and exchanges that shaped the medieval world. Fixers sheds light on the complex processes through which ideas and texts were disseminated, transcending geographical boundaries and cultural barriers. It demonstrates how translators and interpreters played a vital role in facilitating cultural exchange, promoting mutual understanding, and shaping the development of literature, art, and society.

This book is a must-read for scholars and students interested in medieval studies, translation studies, cultural history, and the broader fields of literary and cultural analysis. It provides a fresh and innovative perspective that challenges our understanding of the past and offers valuable insights into the complex processes of cultural mediation and exchange. By exploring the roles of fixers in the medieval world, Stahuljak opens up new avenues for research and exploration, contributing to our understanding of the rich and multifaceted tapestry of the medieval era.

Weight: 522g
Dimension: 151 x 230 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226830407