Vladimir Muravyov (translator)
Encyclopedia
Vladimir Sergeyevich Muravyov ' onMouseout='HidePop("35008")' href="/topics/Vitebsk">Vitebsk
—June 10, 2001, Moscow
) was a Russian translator and literary critic. He was awarded the Inolit Prize for Best Translation in 1987 (The Great Pursuit
by Tom Sharpe
).
In 1976 Muravyov published a pioneering Russian article in the Soviet Union
titled "Tolkien and Critics". Together with Andrey Kistyakovsky
, he wrote the first official, though partial, Russian translation
of the Lord of the Rings, published in 1982 with an introductory foreword. Muravyov continued the work after Kistyakovsky's death.
. He wrote two monographs on Jonathan Swift
(1968, 1972) and several articles on modern English-American science fiction
. He was working in the Soviet Library of Foreign Literature when he started the search for Western reviews of The Lord of the Rings. Muravyov noted the furor the book was causing and began discussing it with a few people.
, which was the sole Russian version until 1990, reached second place in a poll on the best Russian translation of The Lord of the Rings, conducted by Russian fan site Tolkien.su. In 1991 Muravyov translated The Two Towers
and a year later The Return of the King
. His transliteration was adapted for locations in The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
. Muravyov's The Two Towers was criticised for deviations and redundant Russification
. Théoden
was referred to as konung while marshal Éomer
was titled the Third Seneschal
of Mustangrim. Other examples include Tobold Hornblower translated as Tobold Thunderer (Громобой) and the river Entwash, transliterated as Ontawa (Онтава). However it was outlined that Muravyov, avoiding similarities to the Russian word 'fool' (duren), transliterated Durin
as Darin and Anduril as Andril. Many tolkienists do not share Muravyov's views on the etymology of hobbits, which he derives from the words homo and rabbit.
Muravyov also translated the works of Washington Irving
, O. Henry
, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Muriel Spark
, Evelyn Waugh
and Colin Thiele
.
.
Muravyov's son Alexey is a renowned scholar of Syriac Christian writers. He is also a prominent propagator of Old Ritualism, a Russian Orthodox schismatic community.
Vitebsk
Vitebsk, also known as Viciebsk or Vitsyebsk , is a city in Belarus, near the border with Russia. The capital of the Vitebsk Oblast, in 2004 it had 342,381 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth largest city...
—June 10, 2001, Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
) was a Russian translator and literary critic. He was awarded the Inolit Prize for Best Translation in 1987 (The Great Pursuit
The Great Pursuit
The Great Pursuit is a 1977 comic novel by Tom Sharpe. It is a satire encompassing commercialism in publishing and literary criticism.-Plot introduction:...
by Tom Sharpe
Tom Sharpe
Tom Sharpe is an English satirical author, best known for his Wilt series of novels.Sharpe was born in London and moved to South Africa in 1951, where he worked as a social worker and a teacher, before being deported for sedition in 1961...
).
In 1976 Muravyov published a pioneering Russian article in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
titled "Tolkien and Critics". Together with Andrey Kistyakovsky
Andrey Kistyakovsky
Andrey Andreyevich Kistyakovsky was a Russian translator and political activist. He translated the belles-lettres from English to Russian and began publishing in 1967....
, he wrote the first official, though partial, Russian translation
Translations of The Lord of the Rings into Russian
Russian interest in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings awoke soon after its publication in 1955, long before the first Russian translation....
of the Lord of the Rings, published in 1982 with an introductory foreword. Muravyov continued the work after Kistyakovsky's death.
Life
Muravyov graduated from the philological faculty of the Moscow State UniversityMoscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
. He wrote two monographs on Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
(1968, 1972) and several articles on modern English-American science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
. He was working in the Soviet Library of Foreign Literature when he started the search for Western reviews of The Lord of the Rings. Muravyov noted the furor the book was causing and began discussing it with a few people.
Translations
The Kistyakovsky-Muravyov translation of The Fellowship of the RingThe Fellowship of the Ring
The Fellowship of the Ring is the first of three volumes of the epic novel The Lord of the Rings by the English author J. R. R. Tolkien. It takes place in the fictional universe Middle-earth. It was originally published on July 29, 1954 in the United Kingdom...
, which was the sole Russian version until 1990, reached second place in a poll on the best Russian translation of The Lord of the Rings, conducted by Russian fan site Tolkien.su. In 1991 Muravyov translated The Two Towers
The Two Towers
The Two Towers is the second volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's high fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings. It is preceded by The Fellowship of the Ring and followed by The Return of the King.-Title:...
and a year later The Return of the King
The Return of the King
The Return of the King is the third and final volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, following The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers.-Title:...
. His transliteration was adapted for locations in The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game for Microsoft Windows set in a fantasy universe based upon J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth writings...
. Muravyov's The Two Towers was criticised for deviations and redundant Russification
Russification
Russification is an adoption of the Russian language or some other Russian attributes by non-Russian communities...
. Théoden
Théoden
Théoden is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel, The Lord of the Rings. He appears as a major supporting character in The Two Towers and The Return of the King.-Appearances:...
was referred to as konung while marshal Éomer
Éomer
Éomer is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He appears in The Two Towers and The Return of the King, the second and third volumes of Tolkien's fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings....
was titled the Third Seneschal
Seneschal
A seneschal was an officer in the houses of important nobles in the Middle Ages. In the French administrative system of the Middle Ages, the sénéchal was also a royal officer in charge of justice and control of the administration in southern provinces, equivalent to the northern French bailli...
of Mustangrim. Other examples include Tobold Hornblower translated as Tobold Thunderer (Громобой) and the river Entwash, transliterated as Ontawa (Онтава). However it was outlined that Muravyov, avoiding similarities to the Russian word 'fool' (duren), transliterated Durin
Durin
Durin is the name of seven Kings of Dwarves in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. They were held by the Dwarves to be the reincarnations of the first one, Durin the Deathless, resembling him in appearance and said to have preserved memories of their 'earlier lives'.Tolkien took the name Durin, like...
as Darin and Anduril as Andril. Many tolkienists do not share Muravyov's views on the etymology of hobbits, which he derives from the words homo and rabbit.
Muravyov also translated the works of Washington Irving
Washington Irving
Washington Irving was an American author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century. He was best known for his short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His historical works...
, O. Henry
O. Henry
O. Henry was the pen name of the American writer William Sydney Porter . O. Henry's short stories are well known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and clever twist endings.-Early life:...
, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Muriel Spark
Muriel Spark
Dame Muriel Spark, DBE was an award-winning Scottish novelist. In 2008 The Times newspaper named Spark in its list of "the 50 greatest British writers since 1945".-Early life:...
, Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh , known as Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer of novels, travel books and biographies. He was also a prolific journalist and reviewer...
and Colin Thiele
Colin Thiele
Colin Milton Thiele, AC was an Australian author and educator. He was renowned for his award-winning children's fiction, most notably the novels Storm Boy, Blue Fin, the Sun on the Stubble series, and February Dragon.- Biography :Thiele was born in Eudunda in South Australia to a Barossa German...
.
Other information
Muravyov is the son of literary critic and translator Irina Muravyova (translator) and the stepson of Russian philosopher Grigory PomerantsGrigory Pomerants
Grigory Solomonovich Pomerants is a Russian philosopher and cultural theorist...
.
Muravyov's son Alexey is a renowned scholar of Syriac Christian writers. He is also a prominent propagator of Old Ritualism, a Russian Orthodox schismatic community.