Description
Poetry. Translated by Adam J. Sorkin and Ioana Ieronim. "Translating 'Eclogue' with the author as my co-translator became a further evolution of a partnership and friendship. Ioana Ieronim and I had previously translated five books of her poetry into English. Although rural in setting, the original text of 'Eclogue' is not laden with provincial dialect and nonstandard usages, and thus, as the native-speaking expert in the target language, I needed only a light hand with English solecisms. On the other hand, a number of characters, Lavinia especially, displayed small repeated speech patterns, such as her simple 'Hmmm, yes,' a phrase that defines her voice in an understated way, both the way she spoke and also her reflective interior point of view. Enfolding such plain vernacular speech were the lyrical passages written from a broader authorial perspective, detailed, rich with clarity and lyrical suggestion. These had to come across as precise, unforced, never sentimental or precious."—Adam J. Sorkin
"An Amazing object of virtuosity."—Al. Calinescu
"A Beautiful thrilling book."—Tania Radu
"This is a 'total' polyphonic poem, containing magic realism associated with epic-type interest, feature reportage with memoir, hyperrealism and lyrical incantation, portraits and dialogue-based sequences."—Paul Cernat
Author Bio
Ioana Ieronim is a distinguished Romanian writer, author of more than ten collections of poetry (three in English) and a volume of drama. Her narrative poetry in LAVINIA & HER DAUGHTERS as well as The Triumph of the Water Witch (Bloodaxe Books, 2000, translated with Adam J. Sorkin-Shortlisted for Oxford-Weidenfeld Translation Prize, St. Anne's College) was hailed as groundbreaking. Ieronim has participated in numerous international poetry festivals, and her translations include drama from Shakespeare to Tony Kushner. She was cultural attaché of the Romanian Embassy in Washington, DC (1992-96) and thereafter served the Soros Foundation and the Fulbright Commission in Bucharest. She divides her time between Bucharest and Washington.
Author City: SOMERVILLE, MA USA