The manipulation of children's literature : the Russian translations of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'

• Main Author: Karvounidou, Eleni
• Other Authors: Asimakoulas, Dimitris ; Wynne-Davies, Marion
• Published: University of Surrey 2018
• Online Access: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.742105

The translation and publication process of foreign literary works and particularly of children’s literature in Russia has been through various changes and reforms following the socio-political shifts that occurred in different periods of Russian history. This thesis examines three Russian translations of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland published before, during and after the Soviet Era. This periodisation is essential, as the main research question of the thesis is how the shifting socio-political circumstances and ideologies governing Russia in each of the three periods examined affected the translation of children’s literature. The study focuses on power and authority references, which are frequently identified in the book, as the creatures of Wonderland constantly insult and terrify Alice in their attempt to seize power. Through these examples and drawing on Even-Zohar’s polysystem theory, Toury’s concept of norms and House’s model of translation quality assessment, this thesis also answers questions as to how the norms prevailing in the source culture are transferred to the target culture, as well as what translation strategies are used by the Russian translators of Alice Adventures in Wonderland in each of the periods examined. Since the study takes place in a Russian context, references to censorship in translation and publication of children’s literature are inevitable, as previous research has demonstrated that publications were under state control, particularly during the Soviet years. Therefore, the translations used here as observational material, are also examined for any potential censorship effect. Despite the fact that the same examples are examined in all three translations, the result and the translators’ choices, differ to a great extent. The pre-Soviet translation has many deletions, related particularly to the violent scenes of the book. The Soviet translation is a literal rendering of Carroll’s original story. Finally, the post-Soviet translation is a creative work, which contains many additions that bring the story closer to the mentality and understanding of the Russian readership.