Presentation
A compelling case for reading translated texts, which effectively dismantles our preconceptions about translation
The Bible is (almost) always read in translation. It is precisely because it is translated that it can be passed on and nourish the imagination of readers. But in reality, no two people have read the same version of the text. Claire Placial reminds us that there is no such thing as ‘the Bible’: there are only versions of the Bible. From one edition to the next, from one translation to the next, not only does the text change, but so does its form (prose, free verse, metrical verse), revealing a multitude of interpretations that constitute its true richness.
The culmination of 15 years of research and teaching in comparative literature, this book draws on the case study of the Bible to offer a fresh perspective on all literary texts in translation. From reading alone to studying in class, the author argues that we benefit from reading translated texts, as they embody both the original text and the translator’s interpretation. Studying translations is therefore a way to open our eyes to world literature.
Author
Claire Placial is a professor of comparative literature at the University of Lorraine. Her research focuses on the history and theory of translation, particularly of the Hebrew Bible, as well as the conditions that make the study of translated texts possible. She is also a literary translator from German into French, notably of works by Heine.
498 pages
16 x 24 cm
Date of publication: 18/06/2026
ISBN: 9782858314829