This autumn sees the publication of two books which address the issue of translation in Beckett’s oeuvre.
Samuel Beckett and Translation (Palgrave), edited by José Francisco Fernández and Mar Garre García adresses a number of themes including Beckett’s self-translations, translations of other authors and the poetics of translation, in a collection comprising thirteen chapters followed by a section of commentary from seasoned translators who have worked on Beckett’s texts. Also included are specially commissioned contributions by three translators who worked with Beckett himself.
Translating Samuel Beckett around the World (Edinburgh University Press) also co-edited by José Francisco Fernández, in association with Pascale Sardin, explores how Beckett’s work has traveled throughout the world and assesses its impact as it is translated into local languages. The book’s twelve chapters provide ample examples of Beckett’s presence in countries in which there has previously been minimal coverage, e.g. China, Turkey, India and Pakistan, as well as providing close analysis of performances of the work in Hebrew, Hindi and Icelandic.
Both books have their genesis in the 5th international Samuel Beckett Society in Almería, Spain in 2019, hosted by Professor García and are a testament to the groundbreaking work which was presented at the time.
The Samuel Beckett Society 