Shakespeare Complete Works 13: Twelfth Night (Chinese-English Parallel)

Author: (English) Shakespeare
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: China Radio & Television Press introduced the copyright of the bilingual edition of The Complete Works of Shakespeare translated by Liang Shiqiu from Far Eastern Book Company, Taiwan. This is the first time the Liang translation of The Complete Works of Shakespeare has been published and distributed in mainland China in a bilingual format. The main features of the Liang translation are: a colloquial prose style; a literal translation that remains faithful to the original text; and a complete translation that does not omit any part of the original. Additionally, the Liang translation has unique aspects: first, it includes annotations. The original works of Shakespeare often present version difficulties, being obscure and hard to understand, with numerous puns, idioms, slang, allusions, and even obscene language. Liang Shiqiu not only translates literally but also adds extensive annotations to help readers understand the original text. Second, each play is preceded by an introduction. The introductions discuss the version, composition date, story source, stage history, significance, and critical opinions of the play. Twin siblings C?sar and Viola resemble each other in appearance. During a sea voyage, they encounter a storm that sinks the ship, leaving them stranded. Viola miraculously survives and is shipwrecked in Illyria. Believing her only relative, her brother, has perished, she is filled with profound grief. The captain comforts her, claiming to have seen C?sar tied to a drifting mast floating on the sea. Though Viola does not know the truth, the thought of possibly reuniting with her brother gives her a glimmer of hope.