Barbara Wright
Encyclopedia
Barbara Wright was an English translator
of modern French literature
.
Wright, born in Worthing
, studied music and art in Paris
in the years before World War II. She began her career as a pianist
specialising in the accompaniment of Lieder, supporting herself by working as an art and literary critic, often needing to translate the works herself, that she was writing about. This soon led to the discovery that translating literature employed the same faculties that she utilised as a pianist — the ability to present artistic works to an audience in a manner acceptable and satisfying to the composer or writer and honest in their interpretation. She then devoted her time to translation.
She specialised in "poetic prose" and drama, especially French surrealist and existential writing, but she translated works in several genres including women's literature, historical fiction, and fantasy. In 1986 she was made a Commandeur in L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
. In April 2001 she was made a member of the College of Pataphysics, as Régente de Zozologie Shakespearienne, with Fernando Arrabal
and Umberto Eco
(cacopédiste) as company. She was vibrant and lucid to the very end.
Her literary translation papers are held by the Lilly Library at Indiana University (Bloomington). The files are arranged alphabetically with publisher correspondence and French author–translation queries and notes all in a single alphabet. The authors she has translated and who are represented in the collection include Jean Hamburger
(Le Journal de William Harvey), Eugene Ionesco
, Alfred Jarry
, Pierre Lauer, Robert Pinget
, Raymond Queneau
and Nathalie Sarraute
. The publishers of Wright's works, with whom there are extensive correspondence files, include John Calder
, Doubleday, Faber & Faber, New Directions, and Red Dust
. Also present is a large file of correspondence between Wright and Russell Fitzgerald, an aspiring author and devoted fan of her work from San Francisco, California.
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
of modern French literature
French literature
French literature is, generally speaking, literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French. Literature written in French language, by citizens...
.
Wright, born in Worthing
Worthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
, studied music and art in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in the years before World War II. She began her career as a pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
specialising in the accompaniment of Lieder, supporting herself by working as an art and literary critic, often needing to translate the works herself, that she was writing about. This soon led to the discovery that translating literature employed the same faculties that she utilised as a pianist — the ability to present artistic works to an audience in a manner acceptable and satisfying to the composer or writer and honest in their interpretation. She then devoted her time to translation.
She specialised in "poetic prose" and drama, especially French surrealist and existential writing, but she translated works in several genres including women's literature, historical fiction, and fantasy. In 1986 she was made a Commandeur in L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is an Order of France, established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture, and confirmed as part of the Ordre national du Mérite by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963...
. In April 2001 she was made a member of the College of Pataphysics, as Régente de Zozologie Shakespearienne, with Fernando Arrabal
Fernando Arrabal
Fernando Arrabal Terán is a Spanish playwright, screenwriter, film director, novelist and poet. He settled in France in 1955, he describes himself as “desterrado,” or “half-expatriate, half-exiled.”...
and Umberto Eco
Umberto Eco
Umberto Eco Knight Grand Cross is an Italian semiotician, essayist, philosopher, literary critic, and novelist, best known for his novel The Name of the Rose , an intellectual mystery combining semiotics in fiction, biblical analysis, medieval studies and literary theory...
(cacopédiste) as company. She was vibrant and lucid to the very end.
Her literary translation papers are held by the Lilly Library at Indiana University (Bloomington). The files are arranged alphabetically with publisher correspondence and French author–translation queries and notes all in a single alphabet. The authors she has translated and who are represented in the collection include Jean Hamburger
Jean Hamburger
Jean Hamburger was a French physician, surgeon and essayist. He is particularly known for his contribution to nephrology, and for having performed the first renal transplantation in France in 1952.-Biography:...
(Le Journal de William Harvey), Eugene Ionesco
Eugène Ionesco
Eugène Ionesco was a Romanian and French playwright and dramatist, and one of the foremost playwrights of the Theatre of the Absurd...
, Alfred Jarry
Alfred Jarry
Alfred Jarry was a French writer born in Laval, Mayenne, France, not far from the border of Brittany; he was of Breton descent on his mother's side....
, Pierre Lauer, Robert Pinget
Robert Pinget
Robert Pinget was a major avant-garde French writer, born in Switzerland, who wrote several novels and other prose pieces that drew comparison to Beckett and other major Modernist writers...
, Raymond Queneau
Raymond Queneau
Raymond Queneau was a French poet and novelist and the co-founder of Ouvroir de littérature potentielle .-Biography:Born in Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, Queneau was the only child of Auguste Queneau and Joséphine Mignot...
and Nathalie Sarraute
Nathalie Sarraute
Nathalie Sarraute was a French lawyer and writer of Russian Jewish origin.-Life:Sarraute was born Natalia/Natacha Tcherniak in Ivanovo , 300 km north-east of Moscow in 1900 , and, following...
. The publishers of Wright's works, with whom there are extensive correspondence files, include John Calder
John Calder
John Mackenzie Calder is a Canadian and Scottish publisher who founded Calder Publishing in 1949.-Biography:John Calder was a friend of Samuel Beckett, becoming the main publisher of his prose-texts in Britain after the success of Waiting for Godot on the London stage in 1955-56...
, Doubleday, Faber & Faber, New Directions, and Red Dust
Red Dust
Red Dust is an American 1932 romantic drama film directed by Victor Fleming. The picture is the second of six movies Clark Gable and Jean Harlow made together and was produced during the Pre-Code era of Hollywood...
. Also present is a large file of correspondence between Wright and Russell Fitzgerald, an aspiring author and devoted fan of her work from San Francisco, California.