1st Edition
Two English-Language Translators of Jin Ping Mei From Lotus to Plum
Two English-Language Translators of Jin Ping Mei examines English translations of the Ming novel Jin Ping Mei by translators from different historical periods within the Anglophone world.
Drawing upon theoretical insights from translation studies, literary criticism, and cultural studies, the book explores the treatment of salient features of the novel in translation, including cultural representation, narratological elements, gender-specific motifs, and (homo)sexual themes. Through literary re-imagining and artistic re-creation, Egerton transforms a complex and sprawling narrative into a popular modern middlebrow novel, making it readily accessible within Western genres. Roy’s interlinear and annotated translation transcends the mere retelling of a vivid story for its unwavering emphasis on every single detail of the original, becoming a portal to the Ming past. It stands as a testament to the significance of translation as a medium for understanding the legacy of the late Ming and the socio-cultural dynamics shaping that period in Chinese history.
This book will be a useful reference for scholars and research students within the fields of literary translation studies and translated Chinese literature, particularly Ming- Qing fiction. The book will also appeal to students and researchers studying Jin Ping Mei’s translation and reception in the West.
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1 Introduction: Setting the Scene
Chapter 2 Late Ming (Un)veiled: Cultural Representations within Translational and Transnational Contexts
Chapter 3 In Search of a Varied Voice: Remodeling Narratological Elements Through Translation
Chapter 4 Navigating Gender Dynamics: The Representation of Women in Translation
Chapter 5 Re-narrating Desire: Translation of Sexuality and Erotic Sensations/Swaying Between Titillation and Repression
Chapter 6 Conclusion: Translating as a Hermeneutic Act is an Infinite Task
Index
Biography
Shuangjin Xiao received his doctorate in Literary Translation Studies from Victoria University of Wellington. His research interests include translation studies, cultural studies, discourse analysis, and transmediality and popular culture in contemporary China. His articles have appeared in academic journals including the Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, the Compilation and Translation Review, the International Journal of Linguistics Studies, and Translation Matters. He also works as a freelance translator and is currently researching literary representations of gender and trauma, focusing on their treatment within translational and transmedial contexts.
