Dreaming of Cydalise: Chimeras, disfiguration, translation

• Published in: Orbis litterarum Vol. 79; no. 4; pp. 379 - 399
• Main Author: Luca, Dinu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.08.2024
• Subjects: Adaptations; chinoiserie; Gautier, Theophile (1811-1872); Literary criticism; Literary translation; Poetry; Shao Xunmei; Shao Xunmei (1906-1968); Text analysis; Théophile Gautier; translation; Vasile Alecsandri

This essay argues that translation, next to other kinds of language ferrying, can be profitably seen as remedial work. To make this point, I discuss five attempts at poetising ‘Cydalise’, a chimera dreamed into being by Théophile Gautier (1811–1872). After introducing it, I investigate three of Gaut...