(FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC) In contrast to most Japanese novels, Haruki Murakami’s "1Q84" came out in a number of European languages before it appeared in English in fall 2011. This talk analyzes how the process of translation was affected by the absence of a “hegemonic” English version and discusses whether European versions are in fact more “faithful” to the original. It examines the original techniques Murakami used in his last novel and how they were reflected (or lost) in different translations. It also discusses the unprecedented degree of communication and collaboration between European translators during the translation process.

About the Speaker: Anna Zielinska-Elliott is a translator of modern Japanese literature into Polish. She has translated Mishima Yukio, Yoshimoto Banana, and most of the work of Murakami Haruki. Educated in Poland and Japan, she holds a PhD in Japanese literature from the University of Warsaw. She teaches Japanese language, literature, and translation at Boston University.