Interview ｜ Wang Yan: It is planned to complete the eight volumes of "Jane Austin Complete Works" in three years

This year marks the 205th anniversary of the death of the famous British novelist Jane Austin (1775-1817). In July, the first volume of Wang Yan's "Complete Works of Jane Austin", "Bei Nu Lama", was published by East China Normal University Press "Unicorn Library".

Wang Yan is a teacher at the School of Foreign Languages ​​of East China Normal University. He is Professor Fraser Iston, an expert at the English Department of the University of Waterloo University. "Bei Nu Manor" is translated from the novel "Northanger Abbey" with the least translation and relatively not -high reputation of Jane Austin. It has long translated this work as "Norosan Temple" or "Norosanjue Monastery" for a long time.

In Wang Yan's view, "Beiyu Manor" is Jane Austin's "youngest and most lively novel", which also reflects the common theme of Jane Austen novels: love, property, marriage. The heroine Catherine is flat, and she is almost beautiful at the age of fifteen. She met General Tilni's second son, Henry, who had experienced happiness and pain that had happiness and pain. In the end, a lover eventually became a dependent. Henry's sister Eleania, young and beautiful Isabella Sop and other female characters also had their own emotional stories ... Under the social system at that time, every lover could not escape the impact of property conditions, and Jane Austen tells the most important foundation of a happy marriage with its humorous irony style that runs through the full text.

The "Beiyu Manor" is based on the "Oxford World Classic Series" as the bottom book, which adds detailed annotations. It also marked the real place and fiction in the "Bei Nu Ruki" on the map.

The first volume of Wang Yan's "Jane Austen Complete Works" series- "Beiyu Ruhu" was published by East China Normal University Press "Unicorn Library"

It is worth mentioning that "Beiyu Manor" is the first volume of the "Complete Works of Jane Austin". Wang Yan plans to complete the translation of the eight volumes of "Jane Austin" in three years, including Jane Austin's six -minister novel plus a letter set and a small collection. Although there are many Jane Osten translations in China, only Mr. Sun Zhili translated all the six ministerial novels of Jane Austen. Wang Yan's understanding of Jane Austen's world from the perspective of women will also give readers a new understanding of Jane Austin.

So why did "Nortar Jue Temple" renamed "Beiyu Manor"? What is the characteristics of "Beiyu Manor" in Jane Austin's work spectrum? What novels can we read in the book? Why have so many readers like Jane Austen? Recently, surging news reporters interviewed Wang Yan.

Translator Wang Yan, teacher at the School of Foreign Languages ​​of East China Normal University.

【dialogue】

Surging News: You are scholars, translators, and readers of Jane Austin. Can you tell us why you like Jane Austin? Which one do you read from Jane Austen?

Wang Yan: I am a super fan of Jane Austen. As the translator of her eight volumes, I may also be her most serious and meticulous readers. Like most readers, my reading of Jane Austin began in "Pride and Prejudice". Most of the spare time in my sophomore and junior year, I used to read the original masterpiece, with the translation, "Pride and prejudice" refer to the translation of Mr. Wang Keyi. Jane Austen believes that Elizabeth "is the cutest person in books published so far. I don't know how to endure those who at least don't like her." I naturally like the cute Elizabeth.

Jane Austen's novels are the most exquisite artworks in my opinion, real, delicate, beautiful. The character in her pen, and the affection, love, and friendship that showed through the characters are always moving and thought -provoking. Her novels have a strong sense of drama, but when I read, I never felt that I was just a bystander, but as if I could enter the world in the novel, and realized the joy and sorrow in it. Reading her novels seemed to be doing a wonderful journey. The Jane Austen Book Collection gives me a chance to see her real, and can better understand why she can create classic works of this style.

Surging News: Why did the first translation of the eight volumes of the eight volumes of the "Complete Works of Jane Austin"? Compared with "Pride and prejudice", "reason and emotion" and "Emma", this work does not seem to be so high.

Wang Yan: From the 2017 to 2018 academic year, I received a scholarship from the State Fund Commission. As a visiting scholar of the English Department of the University of Waterloo in Canada, I conducted a study from Professor Fraser Easton from Jane Austen. At that time, the first thing I did was to read all the works of Austin and found that the "Northanger Abbey" style is particularly cute, which is very different from my expectations. At the same time "Niosi", "Dorosi", and various books, plots and character settings. Professor Iston told me that this is a mutual novel. It is best to first understand the "The Mystery of the Uderfu" by An Radrick, so I spent a week after watching the more than 700 pages of the book. Most novels really read this short novel.

Later, I translated a tutor's paper "The Political Economy of the Mansfield Manor" in the tutor with Professor Zhou Min's suggestion: the worker class of Vanni Price and the Atlantic ", which also includes" Beiyu Lama " Some content. According to the translation practice, the content of the novels involved should be taken from the published translations, but because of the translations of Sun Zhili and Mr. Xiang Xingyao often adopted the translation method, the vocabulary phrases in the dissertation are often unable to strip out. Eventually, with the consent of Professor Zhou Min, I translated the novel text involved in myself. This paper was published in the 30th issue of "British and American Literature Research Series", which is the beginning of my Austin translation. Later, I also tried to write a paper, the death of Mrs. Tilni from the terrorist source of "Bei Nu Ruki" to explore the female marriage and fertility status at the time. The instructor said that he liked this article very much. After finishing my visit, I had the idea of ​​translating "Bei Nu Manor", but because I did not have a literary or translated professional background, I did not really try literary translation before, so I took two years to make courage to do this. thing.

Surging News: The popularity of "Beiyu Manor" is not so high. What is the reason?

Wang Yan: "Beiyu Manor" is relatively noticeable. On the one hand, because the name of the novel is not very attractive; in addition, as Jane Austen created in his youth, he did not go through too many modified novels. Although "Bei Nu Lama" is particularly cute, the depth and research value will be slightly better than other works. At the same time, because the interoperability of the novel has seriously hindered reading and understanding, it will affect the popularity of the novel.

The first edition of "Beiyu Manor" and "Persuasion"

Surging News: In the country, translators such as Sun Zhili and Jin Shaoyu have translated "Northanger Abbey", and the translation is "Norosanjue Temple". In 2007, Jon Jones directed the movie "Northanger Abbey", which was also translated as "Norosan Temple" in China. One of the most significant changes in this new translation is the title of the book. Why did you change "Norosan Temple" to "Beiyu Manor"?

Wang Yan: "Northanger AbBey" has two translations: "Nuo Sangjue Temple" and "Norosanjue Monastery" in China. I have only read the translation of Mr. Sun Zhili. "Nossy" is a transliteration method, which is very Gothic. However, the Chinese "temple" usually refers to the concept of temples and does not serve as a family house, so I think such translations will bring some confusion. "Northanger AbBey" is not only a novel title, but also often appears in the text in a combination or split form. Translated into "Nonoson Temple" will seem not to coordinate with the context.

For example, at the end of Chapter 2 of Volume 2, the general invited Catherine to his house as a guest. Catherine was excited. There was such a paragraph:

With all the channels aginst her, hall, places, part, countage, and cottage, northanger turned up an abbefy, and she was to be its inhabitantant.

What she was going to go was not a house, mansion, apartment, house, house, garden or townshiphouse. Bei anger turned out to be a manor, and she was about to live in.

If you use "Norosan Temple" to be split, it will be difficult to understand. This concept is reflected in many parts of the novel.

The name of the novel to "Northern Angry" echoed the horror of the Gothic novel "The Mystery of Yuduerfu", and also reflects the geographical location, natural environment and historical background of the manor; translated "ABBEY" into The manor, not only because of the background introduction of Chapter 2 at the end of Chapter 2, has also been inspired by "Downton Abbey".

"Beiyu Manor" movie poster

Surging News: How long did it take to translate this time "Beiyu Manor"? Where is its translation difficulty?

Wang Yan: The first draft was completed in less than two months. Because I was too familiar with this novel, I was very anxious, as if I was chasing the drama, so I translated it faster.

The difficulty of translation lies in the cultural background, such as mutual text, and some of them. In Chapter 11 of Volume 2, Catherine went to Henry's priest's residence with General Catherine and Ellino. Henry stood at the door and waited for them. There was such a scene:

At the further end of the village, and toleraBly Disengaged from the Rest of It, Stood the Parsonage, a New-Built Substantial Stone House, with its semicircular sweep and girl

The word "SWEEP" was translated as "path", but I don't quite understand and I can't find the information. I asked my friends and mentors in Canada to know that this was a road leading to the door, which was available for the carriage to stop, so I used the translation of the "channel" and added annotations.

There are also language style, especially the words of characters. At first I wanted to show the way of talking about the two girls, often adding words at the end of the sentence, "Ah, yeah", and later found that this is too speaking, and it will make the sentence lose the center of gravity. Once I modified my special removal of small words and deleted more than two hundred words; and whether "My Father" was translated into "father", "my father", or "my father" and other small problems, so this novel The modification time exceeds the duration of the first draft. Surging News: I saw a map of "Beiyu Lama" at the beginning of the book. There are labels and fictional locations. Are you marked with it?

Wang Yan: Mr. Peng Lun, who is in the archipelago book, first proposed to match the novel with illustrations. He and the Teacher Chen Bin of East China Normal University Publishing House decided to accompany two illustrations before the text. The map was found by Mr. Chen Bin, and I translated the place name. This map is very interesting, allowing readers to see the world in the novel more intuitively, understand the brutality of the general, and can also have some reference significance when reading several other novels.

Surging News: In reading, I also found that the comments below were very helpful, both simple, not affecting reading, but also provided important help for understanding the story itself. Does this part also cost you a lot of strength?

Wang Yan: The idea of ​​increasing annotations is mainly due to my own reading experience, because modern readers, especially Chinese readers, often lack the understanding of the British social background at that time, which will affect the understanding of the novel itself; due to its mutual literature, "Bei Nu Manor" is the novel that needs to be noted most.

I brought back a whole set of Oxford version of Jane Austin's works. The literary and cultural background content in the translation mostly refer to the annotations at the end of the book, and try to be simple and clear. There are also some comments that are language levels, such as some dual -level language.

Volume 2 Chapter 13 The end of Catherine was driven out of the house,

She darted across the hall, jumped into the chaise, and in a moment was driven from the door.

The Driven in this sentence is a dual language, with the dual meaning of "pulling away by a carriage" and "being driven away". There are also some double -custom words elsewhere, and I added annotations.

Overall feeling is not very laborious, because where the additional comments are added completely derived from their reading and translation experience, there are enough reference materials. I got the feedback from some friends, saying that the annotation is very helpful for the understanding of the novel. I am very happy that you also feel the same.

"Beiyu Manor"

Surging News: How do you personally evaluate the literary level of "Beiyu Manor"?

Wang Yan: I am a super fan of Jane Austen. In my eyes, all her works are perfect: fun and humorous, nourishing the soul.

As her youthful and most lively novel, the reading experience of "Bei Nu Lama" is very relaxed and happy. From innocence, enthusiasm, not fearing power, and following the inner Catherine, we can also see the shadow of young Jane Austen. In the novel, she did not conceal her love for the idol Mrs. Radrick, and bluntly taunt some literary forms and social phenomena at the time. Her portrayal of the characters is true, vivid, and three -pointers, always allowing readers to see some of her own shadows from the novel characters. Jane Austin showed her writing genius from the earliest accepted novel by publishers. From her common theme of novels: love, property, and marriage, we can see the heroine and author herself always adhere to the courage to pursue true love.

Of course, as an early work, this novel will have some gaps with other works in depth. Catherine and Emma are the two most lovely heroines in Jane Austen novels. If we compare these two works, we will find that "Ema" is obviously more mature and deeper. But this does not affect the joy and perception of reading "Beiyu Manor".

Surging News: What are the distinctive characteristics of Jane Austen's work spectrum?

Wang Yan: The most prominent feature of "Beiyu Manor" is youthful and lively, not only because of the age of the heroine, but also because of her youthful temperament. Both she and the actor Henry are the anti -Gothic image deliberately designed by Jane Austin. The 17 -year -old Catherine is not sad at all. The weak and sick Gothic novel heroine looks like, but can eat and sleep, always full of vitality and hope. (The 17 -year -old Marian in "Law and Emotion" has the most Gothic heroine's temperament, and the two works are close to.) Henry made Catherine curious from the beginning, because he and the actor of Gothic novels formed too much. Both contrast. The plot arrangement of novels and character dialogue often make readers feel handsome.

The second feature is mutual literature. In fact, "Mansfield Manor" also has a certain degree of interoperability, because the fate of the characters in the novel and the fate of the characters in the drama "Lover's Oath" they performed are similar. But the mutual literature of "Mansfield Manor" does not affect reading, but it is just an increase in concept; the interoperability of "Bei Nu Manor" and "The Mystery of Yuderfu" are an important basis for the understanding of the novel. In fact, because readers are readers The universal sense of background information has generally reduced the understanding, acceptance and love of this novel. I hope that comments can eliminate some of the adverse effects brought by the interoperability and let readers get more fun from the comparison.

Surging News: Does it have some hidden associations with Jane Austin's other works? Wang Yan: All Novels of Jane Austen are based on love, property and marriage, and also endors "Lover's Lover's Future". However, because of the character image of each novel, the family and social background and plot arrangement are very different, and there is no repeating feeling during reading.

Occasionally you can find some mutual two in details. For example, in Chapter 9 of Volume 1, John Sop coaxed Catherine to go out with him to go out and boast on the carriage as an excellent hunter. His self -boasting later changed a little later, and used it on the heroine of "Mansfield Manor" Vanni's brother William, which was very interesting.

Jane Austen (1775-1817), a famous British novelist, was born in a pastor family in Stevendon Town, Hampshire.

Surging News: In "Beiyu Manor", Jane Austin sometimes expresses his views on the situation of British novels at that time (such as people are ashamed to "reading novels", but they are proud of reading the magazine "Viewers", even afterwards In fact, the person is not good -looking), there are also some dialogues that seem to be with readers. We seem to understand the background of Britain's reading, reading atmosphere, and the relationship between the author and readers at that time?

Wang Yan: During the Jane Austin era, drama was regarded as a more elegant literary form. Jane Austin loves drama, loves Shakespeare, and pays tribute to Shakespeare in each novel in different ways, including reference, plot imitation, and praise directly. Each of her novels has a strong sense of drama, and even the participation of "scholars".

Although the novel is already very popular, because it is regarded as a relatively low literary form, many people, even the novelist themselves, will hide their love for novels. Female writers' works are more vulnerable to discrimination, so on the one hand, the novels may be very good, bringing high income to female writers, such as Maria Eggs and Francis Bernien mentioned in the novel; on the other hand, women Writers often hide their real names and avoid trouble. Jane Austin and the author of the later "Jane Love", Charlotte Bronte, have adopted this approach.

From the dialogue between Catherine, Ellino, and Henry, it can be seen that even in such a social background, novels, especially female writers, are still popular.

Jane Austin's Telegram from December 18-19, 1798 can explain the situation of the novel at the time:

I received a very polite note from Mrs. Martin. Her library was open on January 14th and wanted to make me a subscriber. It was best to give her your name too. My mother prepared the money and might also subscribe to it. I was happy for this, but some unexpectedly. To seduce us to subscribe, Mrs. Martin told me that her books were not only novels, but also various literature and other works. In fact, she doesn't have to pretend to be like this, because we especially love to read novels and don't be ashamed of this. But I think it is necessary for half of the subscriber.

These conceals are not affecting novels, including the gradual improvement of female novels. From the perspective of Jane Austen's creative experience, the words "Beiyu Manor", which she started in 1798, fiercely defended the novel, and when her fifth novel "Emma" was about to be published in 1815, the regent king took the initiative to give up Her library administrator contacted her, saying that she could dedicate any future work to the regent. Therefore, as a female novelist, Jane Austen was also fortunate to witness the continuous improvement of novel works, novel writers, especially female novelists.

Surging News: What is the current translation progress of the eight volumes of "Jane Austin"? What new interesting discoveries do you have in Jane Austin during the translation process?

Wang Yan: At present, six books have been completed. In addition to "Beiyu Manor", in accordance with my translation order, it also includes "Emma", "Persuades", "Mansfield Manor", "Jane Austen Book Collection" and "Reason and emotion". Next, I am preparing to translate "Avil and Prejudice". Finally, there are three small works, including "Mrs. Susan", "Watson Family" and "Santon", which can be completed next year. The new discovery is that I love Jane Austen more and more, and translation is much more interesting than simply reading.

Surging News: Which Jane Austin works can meet readers next year?

Wang Yan: Next year, East China Normal University Publishing House is preparing to publish three Jane Austin works, including her fifth and sixth novels "Emma" and "Persuades": "Ema" is regarded by many critics as her most outstanding The novel, "Persuasion" is the most mature and sad; the other is the "Jane Austin Book Collection", including 99 books selected from Oxford and Cambridge. Leverau started until the end of her life. "Letter Collection" allows readers to see Jane Austin, who is true under different characters, better understand her life experience, social relations, and the true temperament she revealed from the letter. Time and space, Jane Austin, who is always loved by readers. (This article comes from surging news, please download the "Surging News" app)

- END -