Froth on the daydream (L'Écume des Jours)
by Boris Vian
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There has been three translations of "L'ecme des jours" Brian Harper's translation "Foam of the Daze" (my press TamTam Books), "Mood Indigo" (American trans.) and this British edition translated by Stanley Chapman "Froth on the Daydream." Translations are a fascinating subject matter, because basically it is how one looks at a book and how they tell the tale in a lanugage that is suibtable for that book or culture.
Since I am the publisher, I of c...more
There has been three translations of "L'ecme des jours" Brian Harper's translation "Foam of the Daze" (my press TamTam Books), "Mood Indigo" (American trans.) and this British edition translated by Stanley Chapman "Froth on the Daydream." Translations are a fascinating subject matter, because basically it is how one looks at a book and how they tell the tale in a lanugage that is suibtable for that book or culture.
Since I am the publisher, I of course nod towards Brian's translation - one because he's American who lives in Paris - and has an understanding of Vian's world and times. As well as giving the language an American tone. I think Vian's work translated into English works better with an American (English) voice due to the nature of the work. And this is not saying Vian doesn't like British literature - because he does - there is outright love for PG Wodehouse in this particular novel - but overall the love of Jazz is extremely important in Vian's work - and American English to my ears fit the material. Also Brian is a superb writer. But Chapman's translation is very interesting -for instance he drops reference to Jean-Luc Godard in the first few pages - which is not in the original by any means (since the book was written in 1946) - but the playful of the images and names is one of the charms of this novel - and for sure it is probably a monster of a book to translate in any language than French.
... Oh well, some random thoughts....less
Read in January, 2006
crazy french dudes writes about bunch-o crazy shit. fun and good.
Matt
marked it as to-read
01/12/08
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to-read
Leah
marked it as to-read
06/19/08
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to-read
book data (includes all editions)
avg rating
(all editions):
4.70 (20 ratings)
avg rating
(this edition): 4.70
(20 ratings)
number of reviews: 2
other editions
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Froth on the Daydream (Modern Classics)
isbn: 0140030751
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Froth on the Daydream (Quartet Encounters)
isbn: 0704300621
