Adapting, abridging and rewriting: the French translations of E. Nesbit’s work (1906 - 2019)

Bardet, Mary Isobel (2020). Adapting, abridging and rewriting: the French translations of E. Nesbit’s work (1906 - 2019). University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Edith Nesbit has long held a place in the canon of Anglophone children’s literature where her work has captivated generations of readers, yet to date there has been no comprehensive study of her work from a translation studies perspective. This thesis attempts to take the first step towards filling this void and examines the translations of Nesbit’s work into French over the past hundred years. Between 1906 and 2019 seventeen translators were involved in producing twenty-three translations of her work for the European Francophone market: a corpus of translated texts which includes a eclectic cross-section of genres published for children, as well as a selection of short stories targeted at older readers. This study attempts to humanise translation history and reveal the network of actors responsible for introducing Nesbit’s writing to France, not only translators, but also the literary agents and publishers that championed her work. More specifically, drawing on extensive archival research, descriptive textual analysis and testimonies from the translators themselves this study reveals cultural modifications of the text, looks at how the texts were prepared and repackaged for a new audience, and considers the curation of Edith Nesbit’s reputation in France.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):