Lori, this is a fascinating interview with the translator of Ice that opens up the strangeness of the book in an enticing way. Ursula Phillips is clearly so intelligent and sophisticated, as is her interviewer, and it’s a simple pleasure to hear such a conversation about a literary work. Though I am truly daunted by the length, I may have to try this novel.
I'm so glad that my interview with Ursula Phillips facilitated your interest in the novel, Eileen. ICE is a marvel, combining so many elements of compelling literature: a morality tale, alternative history, Dickensian-style narrative full of rememberable characters, science fiction, exquisite language, and political, philosophical and religious ideas. I'm simply amazed that a novel like this could be written, and that Ursula took on the translation, despite the author's claim for years that it was untranslatable in English. You are right about Ursula, smart, charming, and incredibly gifted. I'm so looking forward to discussing Borislaw Prus's 1889 novel The Doll with her this summer. It is one of my two favorite novels published by New York Review of Books Classics (the other being Vassily Grossman's Life and Fate!).
I looked for Ice on the Interabang site and didn’t see it. I was thinking it would be good to read during our Dallas ice event! If you don’t have it I’ll get someone to order it.
Yes, the subject of linguistic instabilities, in both style and plot, is a rich and complex one. I really admire how Ursula tackled these in this work. Her translation postscript to the novel reads like a masters thesis on how to deal with a whole host of translation and interpretive problems that could have been real barriers to her creation of this truly enjoyable and satisfying text. I'm so glad that you enjoyed our discussion!
Lori, this is a fascinating interview with the translator of Ice that opens up the strangeness of the book in an enticing way. Ursula Phillips is clearly so intelligent and sophisticated, as is her interviewer, and it’s a simple pleasure to hear such a conversation about a literary work. Though I am truly daunted by the length, I may have to try this novel.
I'm so glad that my interview with Ursula Phillips facilitated your interest in the novel, Eileen. ICE is a marvel, combining so many elements of compelling literature: a morality tale, alternative history, Dickensian-style narrative full of rememberable characters, science fiction, exquisite language, and political, philosophical and religious ideas. I'm simply amazed that a novel like this could be written, and that Ursula took on the translation, despite the author's claim for years that it was untranslatable in English. You are right about Ursula, smart, charming, and incredibly gifted. I'm so looking forward to discussing Borislaw Prus's 1889 novel The Doll with her this summer. It is one of my two favorite novels published by New York Review of Books Classics (the other being Vassily Grossman's Life and Fate!).
I looked for Ice on the Interabang site and didn’t see it. I was thinking it would be good to read during our Dallas ice event! If you don’t have it I’ll get someone to order it.
Yes, the subject of linguistic instabilities, in both style and plot, is a rich and complex one. I really admire how Ursula tackled these in this work. Her translation postscript to the novel reads like a masters thesis on how to deal with a whole host of translation and interpretive problems that could have been real barriers to her creation of this truly enjoyable and satisfying text. I'm so glad that you enjoyed our discussion!