Julie Bozza asked Bryn Hammond:

I understand that The Secret History of the Mongols, while written in the 13th century, was only finally made available in English in the latter quarter of the 20th century. Is that so? How and when did you discover it? And do you think its relative newness (unfamiliarity) to us has an effect on how we interpret it?

Bryn Hammond Yes, it was in the 1980s that full English translations came out. So it has not been in general hands: which has to be a necessity for any ‘monument of world literature’. The Secret History is acknowledged as such but not known as such. If your average curious person were as conversant with it as with an Icelandic saga of the same vintage, yes, we’d be far ahead of where we are, with a range of interpretations. The range, the input from wide engagement, I feel most important. Indeed, what we need now is the Penguin Classics and Oxford World’s Classics editions. Nothing would be more helpful. The only edition made and priced for a popular audience is Paul Kahn, but he simplifies in ways a Penguin wouldn’t want to – his isn’t an English version for close study (and I don’t mean scholarly study, but for the curious person who wants to come close to the work).

As for me, a copy of the Cleaves translation was waiting for me in Abbey’s Bookshop Sydney. Shout out.

flag