On translations and translators. The Masters of Artistic Translation series

A review of the 12 books published in the Masters of Artistic Translation series [Mastera khudozhestvennogo perevoda] by Rudomino Book Centre. Each book is devoted to one of the universally recognized translation authorities like Vladimir Kharitonov, Nora Gal, Elga Linetskaya, and others. Another important characteristic of the series is that all 12 books feature loving forewords and epilogues, penned by fellow-translators, apprentices, and relatives, which enrich the publications with sincerity and direct personal voice, on the one hand, and the expert quality of descriptions of each translator’s method, on the other. The review is structured around the latter: the translators’ own reminiscences and/or those of people closest to them. The books are not an easy read in the sense that understanding them requires experience, both in life and professionally, as well as a love for literature, a demanding taste, honesty and responsibility in translation, a refined ear for language, and constant doubts and self-editing.

1. Arkhipov, Y. (2011). Precious threads. In: O. Timofeeva, ed., Foreign affairs. An anthology of English prose in Vladimir Kharitonov’s translations. Moscow: VGBIL im. M. I. Rudomino, pp. 506-509. (In Russ.)

2. Bagno, V. (2018). The story of Elga Lvovna Linetskaya’s life, work and habits. In: V. Bagno and A. Volkov, eds., ‘With ink ornamental script I will prolong your life’ [‘Chernilnoy vyazyu zhizn’ prodlyu tebe’]: from Elga Linetskaya’s translations. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino, pp. 5-12. (In Russ.)

3. Bagno, V. and Volkov, A., eds. (2018). ‘With ink ornamental script I will prolong your life’ [‘Chernilnoy vyazyu zhizn’ prodlyu tebe’]: from Elga Linetskaya’s translations. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino. (In Russ.)

4. Braginskaya, E. (2012). ‘Let’s talk, however, about Eugene Grande.’ In: J. Cortázar, Letters to the publisher. Translated by E. Braginskaya. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino, pp. 10-16. (In Russ.)

5. Cortázar, J. (2012). Letters to the publisher. Translated by E. Braginskaya. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino. (In Russ.)

6. Dubin, B. (2012). Let’s talk about Eugene Grande, or Cortázar in letters to the publisher. In: J. Cortazár, Letters to the publisher. Translated by E. Braginskaya. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino, pp. 5¬9. (In Russ.)

7. Genieva, E. (2011). ‘He was closely associated with Inostranka...’ In: O. Timofeeva, ed., Foreign affairs. An anthology of English prose in Vladimir Kharitonov’s translations. Moscow: VGBIL im. M. I. Rudomino, p. 5. (In Russ.)

8. Golyshev, V. (2011). Nobility, musicality, virtuosity. In: O. Timofeeva, ed., Foreign affairs. An anthology of English prose in Vladimir Kharitonov’s translations. Moscow: VGBIL im. M. I. Rudomino, pp. 6¬8. (In Russ.)

9. Kuzmina, E. and Kuzmin, D., eds. (2012a). April in Paris. Foreign short stories in Nora Gal’s translations. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino. (In Russ.)

10. Kuzmina, E. and Kuzmin, D. (2012b). Planet Noragal. In: E. Kuzmina and D. Kuzmin, eds., April in Paris. Foreign short stories in Nora Gal’s translations, pp. 5¬14. (In Russ.)

11. Livergant, А., ed. (2017). Watering and trimming the lawn for 300 years: Aleksandr Livergant’s translations from English. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino. (In Russ.)

12. Lopatina, N., ed. (2015). Chance encounters. The works of Austrian, German and Swiss writers in Mikhail Rudnitsky’s translations. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino. (In Russ.)

13. Lopatina, N., ed. (2016). At full tilt and other works of German and Austrian writers in Albert Karelsky’s translations. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino. (In Russ.)

14. Muravyov, А., ed. (2012). A foray into reality. An anthology of English prose in Vladimir Muravyov’s translations. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino. (In Russ.)

15. Muravyov, A. and Kalashnikova, E. (2012). ‘All translators have their own ups and downs...’ Elena Kalashnikova’s interview with Vladimir Sergeevich. In: A. Muravyov, ed., A foray into reality. An anthology of English prose in Vladimir Muravyov’s translations. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino, pp. 463¬469. (In Russ.)

16. Nikolaevskaya, A. (2016). ‘Each one heard them speaking in his own language.’ In: Е. Surits, ed., ‘The Bald Soprano’ [‘Lysaya pevitsa’] and other Elena Surits’s translations. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino, pp. 5-6. (In Russ.)

17. Romanenko, A. (2015). ‘To Olga Kutasova, with a handful of wishes…’ In: А. Romanenko and F. Romanenko, eds., Dedicated to Yugoslavia: The works of Slovenian, Croatian and Serbian writers in Olga Kutasova’s translations. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino, pp. 5¬10. (In Russ.)

18. Romanenko, А. and Romanenko, F., eds. (2015). Dedicated to Yugoslavia: The works of Slovenian, Croatian and Serbian writers in Olga Kutasova’s translations. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino. (In Russ.)

19. Rudnitsky, M. (2015). Meetings without a separation. In: N. Lopatina, ed., Chance encounters. The works of Austrian, German and Swiss writers in Mikhail Rudnitsky’s translations. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino, pp. 5¬7. (In Russ.)

20. Skorodenko, V., ed. (2017a). Best time of the year: Vladimir Skorodenko’s translations from English. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino. (In Russ.)

21. Skorodenko, V. (2017b). Understanding the foreign text and appreciating the Russian language... In: V. Skorodenko, ed., Best time of the year: Vladi¬mir Skorodenko’s translations from English. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino, pp. 5¬8. (In Russ.)

22. Surits, Е., ed. (2016). ‘The Bald Soprano’ [‘Lysaya pevitsa’] and other Elena Surits’s translations. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino. (In Russ.)

23. Timofeeva, O., ed. (2011). Foreign affairs. An anthology of English prose in Vladimir Kharitonov’s translations. Moscow: VGBIL im. M. I. Rudomino. (In Russ.)

24. Vasilieva, L. (2018a). ‘Maybe, at last, one will forget they used to be called “small literatures”?’ In: L. Vasilieva, ed., Under the sign of Twins: Elena Malykhina’s translations from Hungarian. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino, pp. 5¬10. (In Russ.)

25. Vasilieva, L., ed. (2018b). Under the sign of Twins: Elena Malykhina’s translations from Hungarian. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino. (In Russ.)

26. Vengerova, E. (2016). ‘From the heart...’ In: N. Lopatina, ed., At full tilt and other works of German and Austrian writers in Albert Karelsky’s translations. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino, pp. 5¬8. (In Russ.)

27. Yasnov, M. (2017). On French poets and Russian translators: Essays, portraits, comments. Moscow: Tsentr knigi Rudomino. (In Russ.)