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Book Review
MALAYALAM
Three masters in translation
B. R. P. BHASKAR
BHOOTHAVISHTAR: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Translated by N.K.Damodaran, Mathrubhumi Books, Cherooty Road, Kozhikode-1. Rs. 320.
PULLIPPULI: Giueseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, Translated by Thomas George; Rs. 150.
CHUVAPPANENTE PERU: Orhan Pamuk, Translated by Dennis Joseph; Rs. 200. The above two books pub. by DC Books, DC Kizhakemuri Edam, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam-686001.
EUROPEAN WRITERS exerted much influence on the pioneers of modern Malayalam literature. Discriminating readers had access to their works as they were available in translation. Publishers continue to take keen interest in translations, and major foreign novels find their way into Malayalam sooner or later. The books under review are translations of three novels from different lands and different periods. Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-81) has been popular among Malayalam readers since long. His life has attracted as much attention as his writings. “Bhoothavishtar”, N.K. Damodaran’s rendering of “The Possessed” (this title used in early English versions was discarded by later translators in favour of “Demons”) first appeared two decades ago. The present edition was brought out to mark Dostoevsky’s 125th death anniversary.
“Il Gattopardo”, the only novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa (1896-1957), created a sensation in Italy when it was published posthumously in 1958. It was made into a successful movie a few years later. “Pullippuli” (Leopard) is its Malayalam translation. It tells the story of Sicily’s feudal aristocracy against the backdrop of Italy’s unification by Garibaldi in the 19th century. The translator, Thomas George, is an engineer who has written two novels of his own.
"Chuvappanente Peru" (My Name Is Red) by Orhan Pamuk, the Turkish writer who won the Nobel Prize last year, is an unusual novel which combines elements of a love story, murder mystery and fantasy. The story, set in Istanbul, is narrated by a number of characters. Dennis Joseph’s translation does justice to Pamukh’s genius, which comes into full play in this novel.
All three works are eminently readable, although they have come into Malayalam via English. N.K.Damodaran who has translated 15 major foreign works, including seven Dostoevsky novels, acknowledges that he resorts to transcreation instead of sticking to literal translation.
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