Description: "Approaching translations of Tolkien's works as stories in their own right, this book reads multiple Chinese translations of Tolkien's writing to uncover the new and unique perspectives that enrich the meaning of the original texts. Exploring translations of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, The Children of Hâurin, and The Unfinished Tales, Eric Reinders reveals the mechanics of meaning by back-translating the Chinese into English to dig into the conceptual common grounds shared by religion, fantasy, and translation, namely the suspension of disbelief, and questions of truth--literal, allegorical and existential"--
Brief description:
Eric Reinders is Associate Professor in the Department of Religion, at Emory University, USA.
Review Quotes:
"Eric Reinders provides an in-depth and fascinating tour of Chinese interpretations, translations, and adaptations of Tolkien's legendarium, never neglecting their linguistic and cultural framework. This is a welcome study exploring a largely neglected area within Tolkien scholarship." --Robert Steed, Professor of East Asian Cultures and Religions, Hawkeye Community College, USA
"Eric Reinders introduces his readers to Tolkien in Chinese and, in doing so, both enriches our understanding of Tolkien's works and offers compelling insight into Chinese language and culture. There is simply no overstating the cultural importance of Reinders's work not only in the field of Tolkien Studies, but also in cultural mediation between China and the West." --Journal of Tolkien Research "Reinders's efforts are admirable. The impressive breadth of primary research, agility in cross-linguistic analysis, and openness to a diversity of critical and theoretical voices recommend this book as a valuable opening address in a new critical forum on Tolkien and translation studies." --Journal of Inklings Studies