The Art of Literary Translation

The literary translator has long been a figure who has suffered from a lack of respect and recognition for his invaluable contributions to his particular culture. Indeed, as Hans Schulte notes in the introduction, the debt owed him is great, for 'without him, his community would be doomed to provincialism,' a state in which no society can survive in the modern world. All too often, the translator is perceived merely as a literary mechanic between artist and audience, rather than as an artist himself. In this volume, the translator, his art, and his role in society are addressed from a variety of angles in the collected essays. As a whole, the work paints a new portrait of the literary translator which brings out the finest points of his art, and highlights the enormous value of his contributions. Co-published with McMaster University.