The Chinese Versions of Hans Christian Andersen’s Tales: A History of Translation and Interpretation

H.C. Andersen's tales are considered classical fairy tales in China. How they have achieved this canonical status is one of the concerns of this book. Taking a historical point of view, the author explains how the Chinese translations and interpretations of his tales, since they were first introduced and translated, have contributed to their canonization, and how they have shaped the various images of Andersen in different temporal periods. Moreover, considering translation as a social practice taking place in a polysystem, this book further explores how socio-political factors-like economics and ideology-as well as human factors-such as patrons, translators, and readers-influenced the Chinese translations and interpretations of Andersen's tales. By referring to the Chinese target texts, English mediating texts, and Danish original texts, this book clarifies the intertextual relations and influences operating among different versions of Andersen's tales. (Series: Studies in Scandinavian Languages and Literatures, Vol. 136) Subject: Hans Christian Andersen, Literary Studies, Chinese Studies, Linguistics]