CULTURE

Kiki Dimoula in Yale series

A collection of selected works by Greek poet Kiki Dimoula is among the first projects Yale University Press has planned for a major new series of foreign literature in translation. The series, titled the Cecile and Theodore Margellos World Republic of Letters, was made possible by a recent endowment made to the publishing company by Cecile and Theodore Margellos, whose object is to make literary works from around the world available in English through translation. Formally announcing the gift and new series last Tuesday, John Donatich, director of Yale University Press, said «the great ambition of this series will allow Yale University Press to help reverse the trend against literary translations, that virtual censorship that further insulates our culture. Personally, the program affords me and other editors in the Press the opportunity to fulfill a career dream as well as giving the Press at large another way to contribute to world culture.» The other books signed in the series are «Five Flavor Grove» by Can Xue, one of contemporary Chinese fiction’s most distinctive voices; «The Selected Poems of Umberto Saba,» a new verse translation of the great Italian poet’s work; and «The Selected Poems of Adonis,» which is a roundup of poems by the acclaimed Syrian-born poet and essayist. Blessing of Babel The object of the Cecile and Theodore Margellos World Republic of Letters series is to identify works of cultural and artistic significance that have previously been overlooked by translators and publishers, canonical works of literature and philosophy needing new translations and prominent contemporary authors whose work has not yet been translated into English. The benefactors Cecile and Ted Margellos said in a statement: «Our strongest belief is that Babel was a blessing, since each and every language reveals another vision of the world’s infinite reality. Our dearest wish is, through great translation, to bring these visions together.» Cecile Inglessis Margellos is a scholar, literary translator and critic. Theodore Margellos is managing director and co-founder of the Ilta Group, a private equity firm.

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