A New Translation of Sewe Dae by Die Silbersteins, And

WELGEVONDEN REVISITED: A NEW TRANSLATION OF SEWE DAE BY DIE SILBERSTEINS, AND ITS LITERARY-CRITICAL RATIONALE Gregory Quinton Penfold A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (MA) at Stellenbosch University Supervisor: Leon de Kock December 2013 Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Declaration I, the undersigned, hereby declare that the work contained in this thesis consists of my own original work, and that I have not previously in its entirety, or in part, submitted it at any university for a degree. ………………………………………. ………………………………………… Signature: G.Q. Penfold Date: Copyright © 2013 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved 1 Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za ABSTRACT This thesis re-evaluates the writing of seminal Afrikaans modernist Etienne Leroux from a South African English perspective. The present author's new translation of Leroux's prize- winning novel Sewe Dae by die Silbersteins (1962) is the focal point of an enquiry into how “rewriting”, in translation theorist André Lefevere's coinage, has shaped the reception of Leroux's work outside the Afrikaans literary system. It is shown from a literary-histori- ographical viewpoint that translation played a crucial role in Leroux's rise to international prominence and subsequent eclipse. It is demonstrated that Leroux's standing within the English literary system rests predominantly on extant translations of his novels, without taking into account the cyclical quality of his fiction, especially the overarching nine-novel cycle – the basis of Leroux's renown in Afrikaans. The distortions produced by this fact are critiqued. In particular, the received idea of Leroux as an apolitical obscurantist is chal- lenged, the work of J.C. Kannemeyer especially showing that Leroux's politics and art were much more integral and radical than previously (mis)understood. A case is made for Leroux's re-evaluation as a seminal contributor to modern South African fiction compar- able to J.M. Coetzee, and for the production of fresh translations of his work to facilitate this re-evaluation. A detailed account of the translation process behind the present author's new translation of Sewe Dae by die Silbersteins follows. A series of close readings com- pares this new translation to the first translation by Charles Eglington (1964), shows how Eglington's translation obscured certain textual strategies vital to a full comprehension of Leroux's text, examines the difficulties inherent in restoring them, and argues for the new translation's success therein. A mise au point in which insights yielded by this process feed back into an assessment of Leroux's relevance today concludes the thesis. Leroux's tech- nique is shown to have immunised his texts against the desuetude into which time-bound “committed” literature often falls. In particular, Sewe Dae by die Silbersteins, or its new translation, emerges as a satirical anatomisation of subjectivity under late modern capitalism entirely in tune with contemporary cultural representations of apartheid as metaphor for global capitalism. 2 Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za OPSOMMING In hierdie tesis word die skryfwerk van die hoog-aangeskrewe Afrikaanse modernis Etienne Leroux vanuit 'n Suid-Afrikaans-Engelse oogpunt in heraanskouing geneem. Die kandidaat se nuwe vertaling van Leroux se beroemde roman, Sewe dae by die Silbersteins (1962 ), word as uitgangpunt gebruik vir die vraag hoe Leroux se werk “herskryf” is deur kritici en vertalers. In hierdie verband word die vertaal-teoris André Lefevere se werk gebruik om die ontvangs van Leroux se werk buite die Afrikaanse literêre stelsel in oënskou te neem. Uit n literêr-historiografiese standpunt word bewys dat vertaling 'n sleutelrol in Leroux se internasionale beroemdheid en sy daaropvolgende verdwyning gespeel het. Leroux se status binne die Engelse literêre stelsel berus hoofsaaklik op bestaande vertalings van sy romans, wat beperk in omvang en gehalte is. Leroux se “Engelse” reputasie neem dan glad nie die sikliese eienskappe van sy fiksie in ag nie, veral sy oorkoepelende siklus van nege romans, wat die grondslag van Leroux se roem in Afrikaans vorm. Verskeie misvattings wat uit hierdie toestand voortspruit – veral die gedagte dat Leroux se skryfwerk apolities en ook “duister” is – word bevraagteken. Veral die werk van J. C. Kannemeyer wys daarop dat Leroux se kuns baie meer integraal en radikaal is as wat die wanvoorstelling daarvan binne Suid-Afrikaanse kritiek in Engels ‘n mens sou laat dink. ‘n Pleidooi word gemaak vir ‘n herwaardering van Leroux as sentraal tot moderne Suid-Afrikaanse fiksie, vergelykbaar selfs met J.M. Coetzee. Verder word gepleit vir die behoefte aan nuwe vertalings van Leroux se werk, om sodoende 'n deeglike herwaardering moontlik te maak. Daarna volg 'n bespreking van die vertalingsproses agter die kandidaat se nuwe vertaling van Sewe dae by die Silbersteins. 'n Reeks noukeurige beskouings wat die nuwe vertaling met die bestaande vertaling (deur Charles Eglington, 1964) vergelyk, wys daarop dat Eglington se vertaling kern-eienskappe van Leroux se teks verdoesel. Hierdie eienskappe, word aangevoer, is noodsaaklik vir 'n deeglike begrip van Leroux se teks. Die kandidaat bied ‘n wye analise aan oor hierdie eienskappe en voer ook aan dat sy nuwe vertaling die wese van Leroux se roman in ere herstel. Die tesis sluit af met 'n mise au point waarin die insigte wat bereik is in die vertalingsproses aangevoer word as stof tot nadenke oor Leroux se belangrikheid in vandag se leefwêreld. Daar word vervolgens aangevoer dat Leroux se werk bestand is teen die onbruik waarin tydgebonde littérature engagée dikwels verval. Veral Sewe dae by die Silbersteins, en die nuwe vertaling wat hier aangebied word, bied 'n satiriese beskouing van subjektiwiteit onder apartheid- kapitalisme wat strook met huidige voorstellings van apartheid as metafoor vir die globale kapitalisme. 3 Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the following people: my supervisor, Professor Leon de Kock, for his expert guidance and encouragement. my parents, Nigel and Juanita Penfold, for their unfailing support. my wife, Victoria Penfold, who gave me the space and time indispensable to the work and ably proof-read the translation. Dr Lucy Graham, for talking me into doing the project in the first place. The National Research Foundation, for its financial assistance. 4 Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za CONTENTS PART ONE A Note on the Text …............................................................................................ 8 Introduction........................................................................................................... 9 Chapter One: Rewriting Leroux................................................................................................... 11 Chapter Two: Translating Sewe Dae by die Silbersteins........................................................... 35 Conclusion: Reading Leroux Today.......................................................................................... 69 PART TWO Seven Days with the Silbersteins …................................................................... 79 Appendix: Some Types of Cape-Dutch Gable …............................................................... 224 5 Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za PART ONE 6 Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za A NOTE ON THE TEXT This thesis comprises two components: a dissertation and a literary translation. As the project constitutes a conversation between two languages and two literary traditions, namely English and Afrikaans, its reader is presumed to possess sufficient literary resources to fol- low the conversation. Consequently numerous instances of citations from Afrikaans and, to a lesser extent, Dutch writers have not been translated. The translation component, for its part, contains many italicised words from languages other than Afrikaans; common Afrikaans words such as “voorkamer”, “stoep” and “braai” have been deemed sufficiently naturalised not to require italicisation (a glossary has been added for the convenience of non-bilingual readers). 7 Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za INTRODUCTION The purpose of the first part of this dissertation – which is followed in Part Two by my new translation of Etienne Leroux’s Sewe Dae by die Silbersteins (henceforth SD) – is to ana- lyse the role played by translation and other forms of rewriting in the reception in English of the work of the Afrikaans novelist Etienne Leroux. Based on the current researcher’s new translation of Leroux's seminal work, the dissertation provides a case study in how the mutually enlightening practices of translation and criticism can be put to work to yield fresh insight into what a neglected classic of South African literature has yet to offer a contemporary South African readership. Kannemeyer classes Leroux (1922-1989) and J.M. Coetzee together as two of South Africa's most prominent novelists (J.M. Coetzee 23). Brink considers Magersfontein, O Magersfontein! to be not only the pinnacle of Leroux's work, but also a brilliant novel in its own right that would be esteemed as a milestone in any literature (5). Leroux's standing in the Afrikaans literary canon is assured, both as an influential member of the Sestigers, the loose affiliation of writers who collectively constituted Afrikaans literature's

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