SvD about American translations of Swedish poets
I just got an interesting newspaper clipping from my aunt Berit. Jesper Olsson (Editor of OEI) has written an article in Svenska Dagbladet, the biggest Swedish daily newspaper, about various translations of Swedish poetry in America - my translations of Henry Parland and Aase Berg, Jennifer Hayshida's translation of Fredrik Nyberg, and Fredrik Hertzberg's translation of Gunnar Björling.
"American Translations Bring Oxygen to Swedish Lyric"
Here are a few quotes:
""One of the most interesting new poets of 2007." With this selling phrase, the language poet Ron Silliman began his poetry blog (one of the best on the Net) on January 22nd this year. The object of his praise is a Finland Swedish modernist who died nearly 80 years ago: Henry Parland."
[...]
"One thing that fascinates Silliman is how poorly Henry Parland fits in with the common idea of Modernism from the 1920s. Rather Parland reminds Silliman of American Objectivism (Zukofksy etc) - or quite simply poetry today. Parland is in short up-to-date."
[a few paragraphs describing the various works and arguing that these are positive choices of translations because they move beyond essentialized notions of Swedishness - forests, the wind, lakes etc]
"And in a loop this interest comes back to Swedish readers. We too can read the texts anew. When the poet and critic Charles Bernstein positions Björling with Emily Dickinson and Robert Creeley, or when Silliman places Parland next to George Oppen, a new entryway is opened to Swedish poetry where new oxygen and light flows in. It's time to start reading again"
[ends on a quote from Ideals Clearance]
"American Translations Bring Oxygen to Swedish Lyric"
Here are a few quotes:
""One of the most interesting new poets of 2007." With this selling phrase, the language poet Ron Silliman began his poetry blog (one of the best on the Net) on January 22nd this year. The object of his praise is a Finland Swedish modernist who died nearly 80 years ago: Henry Parland."
[...]
"One thing that fascinates Silliman is how poorly Henry Parland fits in with the common idea of Modernism from the 1920s. Rather Parland reminds Silliman of American Objectivism (Zukofksy etc) - or quite simply poetry today. Parland is in short up-to-date."
[a few paragraphs describing the various works and arguing that these are positive choices of translations because they move beyond essentialized notions of Swedishness - forests, the wind, lakes etc]
"And in a loop this interest comes back to Swedish readers. We too can read the texts anew. When the poet and critic Charles Bernstein positions Björling with Emily Dickinson and Robert Creeley, or when Silliman places Parland next to George Oppen, a new entryway is opened to Swedish poetry where new oxygen and light flows in. It's time to start reading again"
[ends on a quote from Ideals Clearance]
posted by Johannes at 7:06 PM
8 Comments:
Whoa, got something on the side there, Johannes?
;-)
Why do you even bother posting here, Max? Most of the things I've read from you on this blog have been snide remarks, nothing that really contributed to the dialogue Johannes is trying to establish.
Why did you bother posting that if you're so constructive?
It was little crack about a spam post. Chill out.
Also, since when have my comments never been constructive around here? I may not always agree w/ Johannes, but I didn't know that was the benchmark for contributing to the dialogue. I'm sure he doesn't see it like that, anyway.
Francois, just ignore Max when he's being annoying.
Also, Max can you send me your email. There's something I need to ask you about.
Emailed you.
What was this thing you wanted to ask me about, Johannes?
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