The Afterlife of Texts in Translation

The Afterlife of Texts in Translation: Understanding the Messianic in Literature reads Walter Benjamin's and Jacques Derrida's writings on translation as suggesting that texts exist within a process of continual translation. Understanding Benjamin's and Derrida's concept of 'afterlife' as 'overliving', this book proposes that reading Benjamin's and Derrida's writings on translation in terms of their wider thought on language and history suggests that textuality itself possesses a 'messianic' quality. Developing this idea in relation to the many rewritings and translations of Don Quijote, particularly the multiple rewritings by Jorge Luis Borges, Edmund Chapman asserts that texts consist of a structure of potential for endless translation that continually promises the overcoming of language, history and textuality itself.

Applies key postmodern philosophers to translation theory Appeals to scholars of literature, critical theory, and translation studies, as well as scholars of philosophy, Jewish studies, Latin American studies, postcolonial studies, and history Includes an extended reading of Borges' writings on Don Quijote

Autorentext

Edmund Chapman has taught English Literature and French at the University of Manchester, UK. He is a co-editor of New Voices in Translation Studies.

Inhalt

Chapter One: Introduction.- Chapter Two: Afterlife.- Chapter Three: The Overtext.- Chapter Four: Language, Judgment, Colonialism.- Chapter Five: The Messianic.- Chapter Six: Pierre Menard, Messianic Translator.- Chapter Seven: Conclusion: Overliving and the Encounter with the Other. <p