The complexity of James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake ensures that it cannot be translated; rather, it can only be rewritten. These rewritings vary significantly, and the extent of their differences – both within individual target languages and across multiple languages – invites further exploration.
Anna Livia Plurilingual is a study of a Joycean macrotext that provides a detailed comparative analysis of multiple translations of selected excerpts from Joyce’s iconic Anna Livia Plurabelle (1928), which was later incorporated into Finnegans Wake (1939). Patrick O’Neill examines how these translations function as independent texts rather than mere derivatives of the original, highlighting the creative and interpretative choices made by translators.
While the concept of a literary macrotext could in principle encompass all reader responses, this work specifically focuses on translations, emphasizing comparative readings of the original text alongside its diverse interpretations. O’Neill’s investigation not only illuminates the intricacies of Joyce’s language and the complexities of the resulting macrotext but also offers valuable insights into the broader field of literary translation studies.

Patrick O’Neill is a professor emeritus in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at Queen’s University.

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