February 05, 2010

Translators Just Need to be Loved


To: Chad Post, Publisher, Open Letter Books

From: Paul Richardson, Publisher, Russian Life

Dear Mr. Post: This is in response to your blog post about our comparative analysis of the competing translations of Ilf and Petrov's Zolotoy Telyonok which our two companies have released.

Let me begin by saying that we feel your publishing company is doing great work bringing so many important foreign works into English. In just three years you have created a really excellent list, and we can only hope it will continue to grow and flourish, especially with Russian authors.

While some parts of our analysis may have struck the wrong tone, nowhere did we attack you or your edition, and we are surprised that you chose to respond with a tirade rather than with a thoughtful, professional analysis, since that would have been more interesting to readers genuinely interested in translation (versus, say, scandal lampreys who are interested in seeking out controversy for its own sake).

Our goal was to encourage debate about the merits of different translation approaches and results, not to start a brawl or descend to Panikovsky-and-Balaganov-style shoving and “Who do you think you are?” That would certainly not be in keeping with the reputation for quality we have carefully nurtured over the 20 years we have been publishing books, maps and magazines on Russia.

We apologize for any remarks in our comparisons that may have struck you as offensive. That was not our intent. Therefore, we have reviewed these web pages and reworded any comments that might possibly be misread.

We have a great deal of respect for Helen Anderson and Konstantin Gurevich’s work and we feel that both the Open Letter edition and the Russian Life edition are significant improvements over the previous two English translations from 1932 and 1961. Furthermore, we believe that both translations contribute to what is, after all, our shared goal: making the wonderful works of Ilf and Petrov available to an English-speaking audience.

There are a few points from your post that we would like to address.

We reply “well, yes, of course” and “well, no, of course not” to your claims that we are biased and illegal.

We clarify three points: First, "bold typography" refers not to the use of a bold typeface, but to the manner in which we stylized Ilf and Petrov's interstitial signs, telegrams and so forth.

Second, we did not state an intention to make Ostap Bender a household name in the US, but to make known to a US audience a character who is a household name in Russia.

Third, all of our books are widely available, be it directly from us, through Amazon, BN.com, Amazon UK, numerous small online retailers, or through any bricks and mortar bookstore which is supplied by Ingram Books.

Finally, we made a regrettable error in trusting that the Los Angeles Times' passage was a correct reflection of the translated paragraph as it stands in your edition. That has been fixed and I apologize for this and how it misrepresented your company's work.

Let me end by repeating how much we respect Open Letter for doing so much to bring the best of world literature to American readers. We for our part hope to encourage thoughtful comparison of these two editions, because too often the translator’s work remains “invisible” to reviewers of translated works. Such a comparative exercise will hopefully lead to greater appreciation of the art and craft required to render fiction well in translation. More importantly, though, it could lead to a greater appreciation by non-Russian-speakers of the inimitable style and verve that made Ilf and Petrov such beloved writers. I hope we can both agree that this would be the best possible outcome.

With best regards,

Paul Richardson
Publisher 
Russian Life

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Some of Our Books

Fish: A History of One Migration

Fish: A History of One Migration

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.
The Best of Russian Life

The Best of Russian Life

We culled through 15 years of Russian Life to select readers’ and editors’ favorite stories and biographies for inclusion in a special two-volume collection. Totalling over 1100 pages, these two volumes encompass some of the best writing we have published over the last two decades, and include the most timeless stories and biographies – those that can be read again and again.
Survival Russian

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.
22 Russian Crosswords

22 Russian Crosswords

Test your knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and society with these 22 challenging puzzles taken from the pages of Russian Life magazine. Most all the clues are in English, but you must fill in the answers in Russian. If you get stumped, of course all the puzzles have answers printed at the back of the book.
Murder and the Muse

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.
93 Untranslatable Russian Words

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.
Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.
A Taste of Russia

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.
Woe From Wit (bilingual)

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

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Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

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