[Lecture] Wednesday 26 March: "Poetry translation: betrayal or loyalty?" by Bernard Grasset, poet, philosopher and translator of poetry.

Date and place :
Wednesday 26 March 2025, from 3pm to 4.30pm
Avignon University, Hannah Arendt campus, Amphi 2E07, 74 rue Louis Pasteur 84000 Avignon.
>> Registration required here  
( passerelles.suspendues@gmail.com )

On Wednesday 26 March 2025, we are delighted to welcome Bernard Grasset, poet, philosopher and translator of poetry, for a discussion on :

"Poetic translation: betrayal or fidelity?

Bernard Grasseta poet, philosopher and translator of modern Hebrew and Greek poetry (published by Arfuyen, Le Taillis Pré, Ressouvenances, Le Bois d'Orion), will help us to consider the following questions: What does it mean to translate poetry? Is it possible to translate all poets? Does translation betray or reveal? What conditions must be met to ensure that translation does not distance the reader from what lies at the heart of poetic expression? Should the literal sense or the poetic sense be favoured? Translation: science or art? These are just some of the questions that could serve as a guideline for a reflection on the act of translating poets, a reflection based on his experience of translating the poet Rachel, one of the great voices of contemporary Hebrew poetry, a pioneer of a poetry-song of light, and three contemporary Greek poets of light, O Votsi, Y Thèmelis, J Tstasos. The philosophical presuppositions underlying the translator's work will be explored.

You can meet Bernard Grasset after the conference at the bookshop "La Mémoire du Monde" in Avignon, 36 rue Carnot, from 5.30 to 6.30 pm, for a book signing.