Arden of Faversham. Translator’s notebook

Abstract

The author explores different aspects of his work on the Russian translation of Arden of Faversham, a famous play from Tudor period, first published in 1592, and written, and staged apparently several years earlier. Andrey Korchevsky argues why this textbook piece was never translated into Russian language and suggests that the anonymity of the author could play a role in its exclusion from consideration by the Soviet translation school. The context of authorship, in general, seems to be very relevant for the translation process, especially with Shakespeare being named as a ‘suspect’ for participation in the playwriting of Arden (as evinced by the works of McDonald Jackson and Marina Tarlinskaya). Korchevsky illustrates some Shakespearean allusions in Arden of Faversham, including some references to Macbeth and Two Gentlemen of Verona. Some other aspects of the translation process are discussed, including the difficulties in translating contemporary jokes, specifics of Russian pronunciation of the ‘Faversham’ toponym, and unexpected, but pronounced, feminism message of the play.