In conversation

Translating David Malouf

A seminar with David Malouf and his distinguished French translator, Robert Pepin, was held at Monash University, Melbourne, on 21 October 1997. The following downloadable text file is an edited version of the first part of the discussion.

Robert Pepin's translation won David Malouf the Prix Femina in 1991 for The Great World; Robert Pepin won the Prix Baudelaire in 1995 for his translation of Remembering Babylon (Je me souviens de Babylone).

Translating David Malouf

Should the translator attempt to "improve" on the original?

A conversation between Nicholas de Lange and Ros Schwartz

Nicholas and Ros will explore the notion of 'improving', which is closely bound up with how the translator sees his/her role in the first place - humble servant or active participant? How far can the translator go while remaining faithful to the spirit, if not to to the letter of the original? The conversation will be based on a taped discussion, illustrated with examples from their work

'Improving' the orginal

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