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Originally Posted by issybird
Thanks, Paola. That was a fascinating review. I checked my library and it has the Creagh translation of Ungaretti which the reviewer recommended. Also Galassi for Montale; I shall have to make do.
My library also has the Italian edition of Ungaretti's war poetry, of special interest to me this centenary year. I think I'll check that out as well, just to get a sense of the language.
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Originally Posted by Bookpossum
Yes, interesting review - oh, the difficulties of translating poetry! I'm glad you think the Sayers translation of Dante is okay paola, as that is the one I have.
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Well, don't take me too seriously, though, I am just a reader that happens to be Italian, and have the ring of these poets in the year, but of course these things are highly subjective, and I am sure that the translators, all scholars, have thought on these issues a great deal, unlike me! My "authority" comes from just being Italian, so there are another tens of millions at least as authoritative as me
to get a feel for the language, though, especially with these poets that are extremely well known in Italy, there are some readings on youtube that can give you an idea of how they sound. Here is Ungaretti reading
Fratelli/Brothers
http://youtu.be/mi3UGy9BKFs
and below
I miei fiumi/My rivers (born in Egypt, then spent time in Paris, finally his variuos heritages coming together in the Isonzo, where he was fighting as a private in the Great War for Italy:
http://youtu.be/8SAegn2KtDc
oops, getting carried away in the
nomination thread!!!