Selected Translations of Ba Jin

Author: Ba Jin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-12-01
Features: Ba Jin's identity as a translator is often overlooked. He was proficient in multiple languages, including English, French, Russian, Japanese, German, and Esperanto. Translation has accompanied his creative work since 1922, when he translated the Russian novel Signal by Galchyn based on an English version. His complete translation collection spans ten volumes, with a particular emphasis on Russian works, making it worth careful interpretation. This collection includes two works by Ba Jin's translations of Turgenev and Gorky. Mumu (1852) is an outstanding work by Turgenev, imbued with profound ideological depth and moving artistic power. It selects seemingly ordinary life incidents, employing clear love and hatred to depict the sharp class antagonism in serfdom Russia, as well as the tragic fate and silent protest of the peasants at the time. It leaves a profound impact on readers. The protagonist of the novel is a mute serf, and the author cannot write his dialogue or describe his psychological activity in the work. Instead, through simple stories and actions, he portrays the protagonist's integrity, kindness, and sense of resistance. The plot is, and the characters are vivid, showcasing the author's exceptional artistic skill. The emotions of a deaf and mute serf for a woman and a dog are carelessly destroyed. In Punin and Babelin, the fates of two men from the lower social strata and a woman are manipulated by an invisible hand, yet they stubbornly maintain their dignity. Cossack Stories is an early work by Gorky, characterized by rich colors, striking brushwork, and a strong folk style, making it unforgettable. (Who could forget the elderly woman by the sea in Izyergil?) Literary Portraits presents the images of six great writers as depicted by the master himself. Ba Jin's translation style is seamless, as if it were original writing, with the love he holds for these works evident in every line.