The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 17.0817 Wednesday, 20 September 2006
From: H.J. Helmers <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Tuesday, 19 Sep 2006 15:44:21 +0200
Subject: Shakespeare Outside of England/English
Comment: SHK 17.0798 Shakespeare Outside of England/English
Indeed, the question is an old one, but it has been largely ignored by
modern scholars. Though performances by English strolling players, which
toured the continent regularly from 1585 onwards, inspired several Dutch
and German adaptations in the early seventeenth century - the most
famous example being Jan Vos's Dutch incredibly popular adaptation of
Titus Andronicus (w. 1638, p. 1642) - the first Shakespeare translation
proper was written by the Dutch actor Abraham Sybant, who translated The
Taming of the Shrew for performance on the Amsterdam Theatre. His Dolle
Bruyloft (Mad Wedding) was published in 1654. In contrast, the first
translation of Shakespeare's poetry was written as early as 1621 Dutch
version Venus and Adonis, perhaps reflecting the fact that the plays
were for a long time not considered to be worth the effort. For more
information on the subject of strolling players and early Shakespeare
translations, see for example Anston Bosman's wonderful 'Renaissance
Intertheatre and the Staging of Nobody' ELH 71:3 (2004), 559-585; Annie
van Nassau-Sarolea, 'Abraham Sybant: strolling player and first
Shakespeare translator'. Theatre Research 13 (1974), 38-59 and Ton
Hoenselaars (ed.), Shakespeare and the Language of Translation (London,
Thomson Learning, 2004). A very useful starting point on the internet is
http://pages.unibas.ch/shine/, a website devoted to Shakespeare in
translation. I am currently preparing a dissertation on the Dutch
reception of English drama in the seventeenth century, which will,
however, take at least another four years to complete.
Best,
Helmer Helmers
Leiden University
The Netherlands
_______________________________________________________________
S H A K S P E R: The Global Shakespeare Discussion List
Hardy M. Cook, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The S H A K S P E R Web Site <http://www.shaksper.net>
DISCLAIMER: Although SHAKSPER is a moderated discussion list, the
opinions expressed on it are the sole property of the poster, and the
editor assumes no responsibility for them.
editor assumes no responsibility for them.
