Brian Nelson’s Translator’s Note brings up a recurring issue: the feat of preserving an author’s distinct tone and style through translation. We saw how this failed dramatically in the translation of The Vegetarian, and it seems quite common that in translating to English, certain people will excessively embellish language that was originally simple. Nelson seems to have a thorough and intimate understanding of Proust’s voice; through this, he should be able to produce a faithful translation. Hazzard’s reflection discusses the endurance that translators must possess when taking on such lengthy works. Davis mentions that an entire essay could be written on translating the title, Swan’s Way, which reveals the magnitude of the job. I found Davis’ style incredibly interesting, as I would expect translators to do thorough research on the original work and author before beginning to translate. Following our discussion on grammatical vs cultural translation, I would have thought it to be critical for the translator to have a certain level of knowledge about Proust and his work before beginning. After reading her explanation, however, it seems like a great way to produce a completely unbiased version, which is necessary before diving into stylistic edits. I agreed with her preference of close translation, since, in my limited experience, I tend to be more of a purist in my own translations.
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