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Tosh's Reviews > Froth on the Daydream
Froth on the Daydream
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There has been three translations of "L'ecme des jours" Brian Harper's translation "Foam of the Daze" (my press TamTam Books), "Mood Indigo" (American trans.) and this British edition translated by Stanley Chapman "Froth on the Daydream." Translations are a fascinating subject matter, because basically it is how one looks at a book and how they tell the tale in a lanugage that is suibtable for that book or culture.
Since I am the publisher, I of course nod towards Brian's translation - one because he's American who lives in Paris - and has an understanding of Vian's world and times. As well as giving the language an American tone. I think Vian's work translated into English works better with an American (English) voice due to the nature of the work. And this is not saying Vian doesn't like British literature - because he does - there is outright love for PG Wodehouse in this particular novel - but overall the love of Jazz is extremely important in Vian's work - and American English to my ears fit the material. Also Brian is a superb writer. But Chapman's translation is very interesting -for instance he drops reference to Jean-Luc Godard in the first few pages - which is not in the original by any means (since the book was written in 1946) - but the playful of the images and names is one of the charms of this novel - and for sure it is probably a monster of a book to translate in any language than French.
... Oh well, some random thoughts.
Since I am the publisher, I of course nod towards Brian's translation - one because he's American who lives in Paris - and has an understanding of Vian's world and times. As well as giving the language an American tone. I think Vian's work translated into English works better with an American (English) voice due to the nature of the work. And this is not saying Vian doesn't like British literature - because he does - there is outright love for PG Wodehouse in this particular novel - but overall the love of Jazz is extremely important in Vian's work - and American English to my ears fit the material. Also Brian is a superb writer. But Chapman's translation is very interesting -for instance he drops reference to Jean-Luc Godard in the first few pages - which is not in the original by any means (since the book was written in 1946) - but the playful of the images and names is one of the charms of this novel - and for sure it is probably a monster of a book to translate in any language than French.
... Oh well, some random thoughts.
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
(Hardcover Edition)
Finished Reading
Finished Reading
(Mass Market Paperback Edition)
June 15, 2007
– Shelved
(Other Paperback Edition)
October 12, 2007
– Shelved
(Mass Market Paperback Edition)
October 12, 2007
– Shelved
June 23, 2014
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Started Reading
(Other Paperback Edition)
June 23, 2014
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Started Reading
(Other Paperback Edition)
June 23, 2014
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(Other Paperback Edition)
June 30, 2014
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Finished Reading
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June 30, 2014
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December 6, 2016
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November 16, 2022
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November 16, 2022
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July 10, 2023
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July 10, 2023
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Comments Showing 1-13 of 13 (13 new)
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Mazion
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rated it 5 stars
Mar 05, 2011 03:13AM
Very useful thank you. I've been trying to get the best possible translation for my British musician friend.
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The American English and the British English is a big issue. And on top of that I feel translation is an art more than just a practice. And I am talking specifically when one translates a creative work. A very very delicate practice for both the translator as well as the original artist/writer.
Now I want to read all of the three English translations and compare. Unfortunately I can't read French, so far I have only read the Norwegian edition "Dagenes Skum" translated by Anne Elligers.
I actually focussed my uni translation dissertation on the different versions of L'ecume des jours for precisely this reason! Personally I found the wordplay in the British version to be more subtly crafted and closer to the original, but essentially, you should try to read this in the original French if you can - it is amazing!
Interesting comment Sarah. But what do you think of Chapman's re-naming one of the main characters in the book, or putting reference to Godard, etc. That i found off-putting. But still, I enjoyed reading his translation, but i still like my (Brian Harper's) translation.
Spanish translate its great, but maybe is for the similarities of the lenguages , sorry about muy very bad english
Totally understandable (in English) Omar. Thanks for your commentary.
is one of my favorite books ever!
and the correct title would be on English of course "The foam of the days" And the title itself add a lot of meaning to the novel
Omar, if you read the title literary, yes it would be the foams of the days, but what is missing is the poetry - because Vian gave this a poetic title - or a pun. Therefore that is why our translation is Foam of the Daze. The British translated title is Froth on the Daydream. Both are good titles to this great novel. If we called the book foams of the days, it wouldn't be the 'proper' title for such a book.
i think tour rigth but in Spanish sounds good "La espuma de los dias" and the way the lives of the characters are inconsistent and disruptive like the foam, and they days go away so fast.
I got the kindle edition titled Mood Indigo, but I think it's actually the Chapman translation. I have my theories on why the title is Mood Indigo, but I can't be certain..
What baffles me is the British translation's choice of changing the name Alise to Lisa. I don't know if they had a reason to do this, than make it sound more English. It feels unnecessary.
