8 February 2007
Goblins, fairies and mermaids take pride of place in a new adaptation of a French book on ancient and modern fairytales.
Edouard Brasey's Encyclopedia of Fantasy: People of the Light has been translated into English by Lorraine David, Rare Books Assistant in the Matheson Library, Monash Clayton campus.
Recently published by Five Mile Press, this volume of fairytale, anecdote and scholarship is embellished with beautiful illustrations. It is a comparative study of mystical creatures, drawing on various sources, including Greek mythology, Nordic, Germanic and Celtic legends, folktales and oral traditions, and literary sources dating back to medieval times.
"One of my personal passions is to stimulate interest in French regional culture and history and the Encyclopedia of Fantasy does just this. It is densely packed with Celtic legends and tales from Brittany, as well as many other parts of France, and indeed various parts of the world," Ms David said.
Having lived in France for over a decade, Ms David is an experienced Technical Translator, with a BA (Hons) in French and a Master of Librarianship in book trade history from Monash. She also has qualifications from the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.
This lengthy work (40,000 words) is her first literary translation, and took over 250 hours to complete. Though the original French version was only published in 2005, the subject matter meant Ms David was confronted with archaic, poetic and legendary language, requiring research into mythology, rare foreign words and phrases from many origins.
Working in the Rare Books Room gave her the opportunity to consult many of the author's bibliographic sources first-hand. Most translators would not have this facility at their finger-tips, given that many of these works can be found only in extensively-equipped academic libraries. These resources were essential tools for checking actual quotes, and getting a feel for an antiquated style of language.
"This enabled me to devise such fanciful phrases as 'waggish little teasers' and 'devilish kill-joys', or rekindle more archaic terms: spindle, distaff and skeins. By the end of the project, I found myself opening my curtains each morning and searching for fairy rings in the dewy grass!" she said.
The Encyclopedia of Fantasy: People of the Light can be ordered through the Monash Bookshop or from the website. RRP - $29.95.
For interviews with Lorraine David or further information, please contact Steve Pogonowski, Media Communications on 9905 1253. Cover image available on request.
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