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| 2004:1
Issue |
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In
this issue we celebrate the centenary of the birth
of one of Sweden's foremost twentieth century literary
figures, Harry Martinson (1904-1978). Sarah Death
provides an overview of the various events which are
being organised to mark the centenary; we present translations
of Martinson's nature poetry and a discussion of the
factors involved in translating them; Ann-Marie Vinde
provides a translator's look at Martinson's Nässlorna
blomma (Flowering Nettle); and Phillipe Bouquet
discusses, with illustrative examples, the task of
"translating" the extraordinary galactic song cycle Aniara.
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In our aim to build cultural bridges
we are glad to include both an item about the Swedish cultural
scene viewed from a British perspective (Laurie Thompson's
lighthearted and perceptive report on the Gothenburg Book
Fair) and an evaluation of her experiencees in Britain from
Maria Schottenius, until very recently Cultural Counsellor
at the Embassy of Sweden in London.
It is also particularly heartening
to be able to present translations by two new, younger contributors:
Paul O'Mahony's interpretation of a recent short story by
contemporary writer Jerker Virdborg; and Stuart Shelley's
of a classic, autobiographically revealing story by Finland-Swedish
author Tove Jansson.
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 Harry
Martinson: A Significant Literary Centenary
Sarah Death
An introduction to the celebrations
marking the centenary of Harry Martinson's birth. |
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To
Catch a Drop of Dew:
On Translating Harry Martinson's
Nature Poetry
Brita Green
Translations
by John Charlesworth and Brita Green
Four years
before his death in 1978, Harry Martinson
was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature
for "writings that catch the dewdrop
and reflect the cosmos". Martinson
was one of the first to be aware of what "civilised" man
was doing to his environment. He wanted
to open our eyes to the natural world around
us, and to remind us that it is our responsibility
to look after it. Brita Green presents
a selection of Martinson's nature poetry
and discusses the challenges involved in
translating it into English. |
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A
translator's look at Flowering Nettle, Harry
Martinson's Nässlorna blomma
Ann-Marie Vinde
A discussion of
some linguistic problems in translating Harry
Martinson's third prose work, Nässlorna
blomma.
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Harry
Martinson: Further Reading
compiled by Ann-Marie Vinde
A selection of
primary and secondary literature in English and
Swedish. |
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"Translating" Harry
Martinson's Aniara
Philippe Bouquet
A
discussion, with illustrative
examples, of the task of "translating" Harry Martinson's
extraordinary galactic song cycle Aniara. |
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 The
Cartoonist
Tove Jansson
Translated by Stuart Shelley
This
short story follows a young cartoonist, Samuel Stein, who, upon
being commissioned to fill the shoes of the legendary cartoonist
John Allington, begins to feel that he is taking on more than
just his predecessor's cartoon strip, and starts making enquiries
into Allington's mysterious disappearance. |
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 from Monday
Morning: Middelkerke
Jerker Virdborg
Translated by Paul O'Mahony
Jerker
Virdborg (b.1971) published his short story collection "Land
Elevation, Two Centimetres per Night" in 2001. Each of the
stories present "a discreet change that is completely devastating". Monday
Morning: Middelkerke is the first story in the collection. |
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 My
Time as Counsellor for Cultural Affairs
Maria Schottenius
We
present Maria Schottenius's evaluation of her experiences in
Britain as Cultural Counsellor at the Embassy of Sweden in London. |
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 The
Gothenburg Book Fair 2003
Laurie Thompson
Laurie
Thompson presents a lighthearted and perceptive report on the
2003 Gothenburg Book Fair. |
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