Narrating the Dragoman's Self in the Veneto-Ottoman Balkans, c. 1550-1650

The Salvagos, a family of Venetian interpreters and spies, lived in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. This microhistory explores their self-narratives, which helped them navigate the complexities of empire, family, and translation. Stefan Hanß's book reveals the Venetian life stories of Ottoman subjects and the importance of translation in the early modern Mediterranean. It offers a novel conversation between translation studies, Mediterranean studies, and the history of life-writing. This book is a valuable resource for scholars of the early modern Mediterranean, self-narratives, Venice, the Ottoman Empire, and Southeastern Europe.

Format: Hardback
Length: 324 pages
Publication date: 18 April 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating microhistory delves into the remarkable tale of the Salvagos, a family of Venetian interpreters and spies who traversed the sixteenth and seventeenth-century Mediterranean. Despite facing tragic circumstances, Genesino Salvago and his brothers embarked on the writing of self-narratives, which became a powerful tool for navigating the intricate web of empire, family, and translation. Their narratives, as they crossed the boundaries between words and worlds, played a pivotal role in navigating both beneficial and unsettling entanglements of the empire.

The foundation of this extraordinary microbiography lies in the discovery of an autobiographical text, edited here for the first time, that provides a wealth of information on Southeastern Europe. This volume reclaims the Venetian life stories of Ottoman subjects and highlights the crucial role of translation in fostering a shared but fragile Mediterranean. Stefan Hanß delves into the translational practices of interpreters, shedding light on the broader significance of the early modern Balkan contact zone. By engaging in a novel conversation between translation studies, Mediterranean studies, and the history of life-writing, this volume argues that the practices of translation, border-crossing, and mobility played a central role in shaping the experiences and performances of the self.

This book is a must-read for scholars interested in the history of the early modern Mediterranean, self-narratives, Venice, the Ottoman Empire, and Southeastern Europe. Hanß presents a captivating narrative that is filled with insightful perspectives and offers a deep understanding of the complexities of the period. Through the lens of the Salvagos, this microhistory provides valuable insights into the role of translation in shaping identities, cultures, and the broader world.

Weight: 810g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367233693