Ethics and Aesthetics of Translation: Exploring the Works of Atxaga, Kundera and Semprún (Literature and Translation)

Ethics and Aesthetics of Translation delves into the intricate relationship between translation theory and practice, demonstrating how literary translation is not merely a linguistic transfer but a profound engagement with ethical and political thought. It interrogates the very essence of what constitutes a "good" translation, moving beyond simplistic binaries to explore the complex interplay of form and content, and the challenge of transmitting meaning while preserving artistic integrity across linguistic and cultural divides.

The journey begins by examining the ethical turn in translation studies, highlighting that the translator's task is inherently an ethical one, negotiating interlinguistic, interpersonal, and intercultural relations. It questions whether we are confined by monolingual and monocultural frameworks, unable to perceive or appreciate difference, or if translation can offer a democratic possibility of linguistic plurality. The work also confronts issues of memory and forgetting, exploring how translation grapples with the specters of the past - the original text, language, author, and moment of publication - and the appropriations and erasures that occur even in acts of remembrance.

Focusing on the works of three bilingual European authors - Bernardo Atxaga, Milan Kundera, and Jorge Semprún - the analysis reveals how translation is deeply embedded within both the form and content of their texts. Through a close reading of specific works, the book argues that these authors use translation to raise and negotiate ethical questions surrounding significant political moments of the twentieth century. Beyond historical contexts, translation in their narratives illuminates broader ethical dilemmas concerning the limitations of a single language and the potential for linguistic diversity.

The exploration maps a "journey of translation" that begins with its impact on each author's work, extends to moments of linguistic translation, untranslatability, and even mistranslation within their narratives, and ultimately expands into an examination of social, political, and affective untranslatability. This process unveils the creative and critical power of translation as a potent, sometimes violent, yet consistently illuminating vision of differentiation and connection, generation and memory across temporal, linguistic, cultural, and political dimensions.

For Atxaga, the book explores his self-translation and the liminal space he occupies between Basque and Castilian, particularly in texts like Obabakoak. It questions what it means to read Atxaga in Castilian versus Basque, and whether such a reading assimilates him into a hegemonic discourse or if both versions hold equal literary value. The notion of "blendlinge" and bilingualism emerge as central to understanding the liminal identities of these authors, who write from a "between" space.

In Kundera's case, the discussion probes the authority of authorized translations, particularly his involvement in shaping the French and English versions of his works. It delves into the implications of his decisions regarding which translations to endorse, such as his preference for a French-based English translation over one derived directly from his Czech original, thus emphasizing his authorial control and challenging traditional hierarchies between originality and replication.

Semprún's work, too, is examined for its engagement with translation, particularly as it relates to his dual literary and linguistic identity as a Spanish author writing in French. The analysis considers how his texts, like Quel beau dimanche!, undergo processes of rewriting and repetition across languages, between the author's voice and the translator's, and across different temporal and cultural locations. It highlights instances where significant portions of his work were not transmitted in translation, underscoring the potential for both omission and reinterpretation.

Ultimately, the work posits that these authors' engagement with translation offers a profound insight into how we approach language and life itself. Translation, in this view, is not merely a technical skill but a philosophical stance, a way of grappling with difference, memory, and the inherent human desire to translate the unfamiliar into the familiar - a process that inevitably involves both expansion and appropriation. It underscores the necessity for continuous negotiation with the question of why, how, and under what circumstances we engage with translated texts.