Queering Translation History: Shakespeare's Sonnets in Czech and Slovak Transformations

This book explores shifting perceptions of same-sex love and desire in translations and retranslations of William Shakespeares Sonnets through the application of queer historiography and poststructuralism. It compares retranslations from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, focusing on target cultures that experienced dramatic sociopolitical changes in the twentieth century. The book advocates for a queer perspective on the study of translation history and encourages questioning traditional boundaries.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 124 pages
Publication date: 09 January 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This groundbreaking work challenges prevailing binaries in contemporary translation studies and employs frameworks from queer historiography to delve into evolving perceptions of same-sex love and desire in translations and retranslations of William Shakespeare's Sonnets. The book brings together perspectives from poststructuralism, queer theory, and translation history to establish a solid foundation for an in-depth exploration of a series of retranslations of the Sonnets from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The intricate and poetic language of the Sonnets, often constructed around era-specific idioms and allusions, has given rise to numerous interpretations of the work throughout centuries, yet questions persist regarding how the translation process may omit, retain, or enhance elements of same-sex love in retranslated works across time and geographical borders. By focusing on target cultures that underwent significant sociopolitical transformations throughout the twentieth century and comparing retranslations originating from these contexts, Spišiaková identifies the ideal setting to draw parallels between changing developments in power and social structures and shifting translation strategies related to the representation of gender identities and sexual orientations beyond what is perceived as normative. In doing so, the book advocates for a queer perspective on the study of translation history and encourages challenging traditional boundaries prevalent in the discipline, making it a vital reading for students and researchers in translation studies, queer theory, gender studies, as well as those interested in historical developments in Central and Eastern Europe.

The Open Access version of this book, accessible at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, provides an invaluable resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike.

Weight: 249g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032021980