How do literary translations and the way they are presented to the reader shape diasporic identity?
What is it about?
This article looks at how Russian émigrés used literary translation to shape and reshape their cultural identity while living in exile. It focuses on Illustrated Russia, a Russian-language magazine published in Paris from 1924 to 1939. The study examines how works of foreign literature—mainly from French, German and English—were translated into Russian and presented to émigré readers. It also considers how editors framed these translations through introductions and commentary.
Why is it important?
What makes this study unique is its focus on translations from host cultures into the émigré language as a way for Russian exiles to stay culturally engaged while maintaining a strong sense of who they were. These translated texts were not just entertainment; they helped the émigré community define what it meant to be Russian in a foreign land. Translation became a key tool for cultural connection, boundary setting, and identity building during a time of displacement and uncertainty. This work is timely because it speaks to current global issues of migration, identity, and belonging. In today’s world, where millions are displaced or living between cultures, understanding how language and translation help people find their place is more important than ever.