Translation from one language to another has often been a subject of criticism and debate. In this collection, Stockhorst (German literature, University of Potsdam) presents articles on
Enlightenment translators and differing theories of translation. At that time, particularly in France, there was a belief that the spirit of the work should be conveyed, rather than the exact
meaning of the text. When a translation was made using another translation, the original meaning might be totally lost. The authors discuss this along with cultural motivations for altering
original texts according to national pride or even gender issues. The line between translation and plagiarism is treated in the case of paintings based on others and in two similar utopian
works in French and German. In many cases the authors conclude that the translation of Enlightenment works, even if often seriously altered, allowed for a greater dissemination of Enlightenment
ideas throughout Europe. Prices are converted from Euros and subject to fluctuation. Annotation 穢2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
