Unknown Translator, and copyright dates.

AlexBell · 12-27-2017, 10:44 PM

I would like to start work on a book for the MR library by Emil Zola called in French La Curee, and usually known in English as The Kill, but also called The Rush for the Spoil.

The Rush for the Spoil was published by Vizetelly and Co. in 1886, and has a Preface by George Moore (1852-1933) who spoke French and was a friend of Zola. But there is no mention in the book of who translated it.

All the three Vizetellys (who usually translated Zola's books) died well before 1947, and it is hard to believe that anyone else who might have translated it in 1886 lived until 1947. Can I get away with 'Translator unknown' and giving the dates?

Jellby · 12-29-2017, 03:56 AM

"In the case that the author is anonymous or pseudonymous the term for a work is 70 years from the date of first lawful publication" [wiki]

For all practical purposes (in my opinion, at least), a translator that cannot be identified is anonymous, and one for whom no biographical data can be found is pseudonymous. So, in absence of reliable information, we just take publication date + 70 years. Even if the book had been published in 1946, we would allow it. If more data becomes available, we can change the status, of course.

AlexBell · 12-31-2017, 11:37 PM

Thanks. As it happens the further I get into the book the less I like it, so I've decided not to complete it.

12-27-2017, 10:44 PM	#1
AlexBell Wizard Posts: 3,413 Karma: 13369310 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Launceston, Tasmania Device: Sony PRS T3, Kobo Glo, Kindle Touch, iPad, Samsung SB 2 tablet	Unknown Translator, and copyright dates. I would like to start work on a book for the MR library by Emil Zola called in French La Curee, and usually known in English as The Kill, but also called The Rush for the Spoil. The Rush for the Spoil was published by Vizetelly and Co. in 1886, and has a Preface by George Moore (1852-1933) who spoke French and was a friend of Zola. But there is no mention in the book of who translated it. All the three Vizetellys (who usually translated Zola's books) died well before 1947, and it is hard to believe that anyone else who might have translated it in 1886 lived until 1947. Can I get away with 'Translator unknown' and giving the dates?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Yet another copyright question: Aylmer Maude (translator of Tolstoy's books)	Doitsu	Upload Help	4	01-13-2015 02:49 AM
Glo Automatic translator	acex	Kobo Reader	0	08-23-2013 03:43 PM
PW Bilingual Dictionary / Translator	apeiron75	Amazon Kindle	1	05-14-2013 05:35 PM
Copyright expiry when date of death unknown	SBT	Upload Help	1	04-14-2013 11:23 AM

12-29-2017, 03:56 AM	#2
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,515 Karma: 18512745 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	"In the case that the author is anonymous or pseudonymous the term for a work is 70 years from the date of first lawful publication" [wiki] For all practical purposes (in my opinion, at least), a translator that cannot be identified is anonymous, and one for whom no biographical data can be found is pseudonymous. So, in absence of reliable information, we just take publication date + 70 years. Even if the book had been published in 1946, we would allow it. If more data becomes available, we can change the status, of course.

12-31-2017, 11:37 PM	#3
AlexBell Wizard Posts: 3,413 Karma: 13369310 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Launceston, Tasmania Device: Sony PRS T3, Kobo Glo, Kindle Touch, iPad, Samsung SB 2 tablet	Thanks. As it happens the further I get into the book the less I like it, so I've decided not to complete it.

Advert