The Chinese translation of The Letters of Samuel Beckett, Volume II, has finally been published by Hunan Literature and Art Publishing House in Changsha, China, after a slight delay due to the Covid pandemic. The translation project, which began five years ago, is part of a four-volume collection, with Volume I already published in December 2021. The next two volumes are expected to be released in 2024. Volume II focuses on the years from 1941 to 1956, a period of great significance in Beckett’s life and career. It covers his experiences as an expatriate in France during and after World War II, where he published most of his great works such as Waiting for Godot and The Trilogy.
The main translator for the volume is Professor Zhang Helong from Shanghai International Studies University. A renowned scholar and translator of English literature in China, Professor Zhang has dedicated much of his career to the study and teaching of Samuel Beckett’s works. He has written a series of essays on Beckett, including “The Chinese Response to Samuel Beckett (1906-89)” published in Irish Studies Review. For over two decades, he has mentored his masters and doctoral students, helping them understand the complexities of Beckett’s works. He has also been involved in reviewing doctoral dissertations and journal articles on Beckett in China, and has widely delivered related lectures at Chinese universities.
Professor Zhang invited Professor Shen Yan, Professor Zhang Xiuli and Dr. Li Hongbin to join him in this challenging task. His team comprises skilled translators and professional researchers of English literature from Chinese universities. While working closely and efficiently with them, Professor Zhang also undertook the proofreading work and manuscript revision to ensure the faithful preservation of the nuances and essence of Beckett’s language. He also consulted with over a dozen professionals from Shanghai and elsewhere in dealing with the translation issues relating to French, German, Spanish, Dutch, and Japanese, which arise in the volume.
The Chinese publication of The Letters, Volume II, marks another milestone in promoting cultural exchange between China and the Western literary tradition, following the 22-volume The Collected Works of Samuel Beckett published by Hunan Literary and Art Publishing House in 2016. It provides valuable resources for Chinese scholars, literature enthusiasts, and general readers to explore Beckett’s life, thoughts, and art.
The Samuel Beckett Society 