Thomas De Quincey, Dark Interpreter: Romanticism in Translation

Thomas De Quincey's multivalent engagement with Romantic translation explores how he used translation to reconfigure British Romanticism and open it up to European Romanticisms, combining insights from translation studies, critical theory, and Romantic studies. It investigates how his work as a translator shaped his writing and demonstrates how his theories and practices of translation served to position his oeuvre, define his style, frame his philosophy, and reinvent the meaning of literary creativity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 06 February 2023
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Thomas De Quincey's multifaceted involvement with Romantic translation presents fresh insights into his renowned essays, his stylistic choices, and his complex relationships with figures such as Coleridge, Wordsworth, Carlyle, Kant, and others. By examining how De Quincey harnessed translation to reshape British Romanticism and extend its reach towards European Romanticisms, this book offers a novel method for interpreting Romantic writing.

The book delves into how De Quincey's writing was influenced by his role as a translator. Through a comprehensive exploration of various materials and readings, it traces how De Quincey employed interlinguistic and interdiscursive exchange structures to reimagine Romanticism. The book examines how his translation theories and practices shaped his oeuvre, defined his style, framed his philosophy, and reinvented the concept of literary creativity.

Brecht de Groote, in particular, focuses on how De Quincey used translation to locate British Romanticism within its European context. By shedding new light on De Quincey, de Groote establishes a translation-centric approach to studying Romanticism, offering a fresh perspective on this influential literary movement.

Weight: 328g
Dimension: 235 x 154 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474483902