Cathay

Pound, Ezra, 1885-1972Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.5

Word count: 21K words
Chapters: 3

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Cathay by Bai Li and Ezra PoundAuthor: Pound, Ezra, 1885-1972,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Oct 8, 2015

Editor's review

Cathay is a collection of classical Chinese poems, including works by Li Bai and others, translated into English by Pound from Fenollosa's notebooks. It is not a scholarly translation in the strict sense but a creative reworking in which Pound reshapes Eastern imagery through modernist poetics; the language is spare and the imagery vivid, and its influence on the history of English poetry has been profound. Reading it lets one observe the choices and inventions involved in cross-cultural translation and understand how classical Chinese poetry takes on new life in another language. It suits readers interested in Chinese-Western literary exchange and poetry translation, and can serve as supplementary material for comparative literature and translation studies. Reading it against the Chinese originals is recommended, noting how Pound handles allusion and lyricism through free verse and Imagist technique. As a public-domain e-book with limited edition information, it is best approached through close reading of the text rather than a quest for word-for-word fidelity.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Chinese-Western poetry translation and comparative literature
English-language poetry readers who want to understand Pound's poetics and the Imagist programme
Translation students who need cases of cross-cultural translation
Literature lovers who wish to reread classical Chinese poetry from an English-language perspective

Not a good fit for

Scholars of classical literature expecting a word-for-word faithful translation with full scholarly annotation
Beginners with limited English reading ability who need Chinese parallel text and notes

Reading tips

Read the Chinese original first, then Pound's English version, comparing how image and syntax are transformed.
Note where Pound cuts, alters, or adds, and consider his poetic motives and the historical context.
Read alongside Pound's Imagist criticism to understand his views on translation and composition.
Choose famous poems by Li Bai for close comparison; there is no need to read the whole book through.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this a strict translation of classical Chinese poetry?

No. Pound translated from Fenollosa's notebooks, with conspicuous creative rewriting; it is closer to English modernist poetry using Chinese poetry as material, and should not be used as a faithful translation.

Can readers who do not know Chinese read it?

Yes. The English versions are clear in language and striking in imagery, and are enjoyable for English readers; but to understand the differences from the originals, it is best to read alongside the Chinese poems or a relevant annotated edition.

What background knowledge is needed to read this book?

Some knowledge of Pound and the basic tenets of Imagist poetry helps, and a general impression of the lyric tradition in classical Chinese poetry allows a better appreciation of the choices and inventions in the translation.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Pound, Ezra, 1885-1972 Author

Ezra Pound (1885–1972) was a major figure in twentieth-century Anglo-American modernist poetry. Although much is known about his life, this entry offers only a brief introduction based on the works listed in the library and widely accepted general knowledge. The library holds eight of his works, including poetry collections such as Cathay, Personae, Exultations, Lustra of Ezra Pound, Hugh Selwyn Mauberley, and Canzoni & Ripostes, as well as the critical prose work Instigations and Poems 1918-21, Including Three Portraits and Four Cantos. These works show him engaged not only in poetry but also in criticism and translation, with a style marked by verbal precision, vivid imagery, and an active absorption of classical and East Asian poetic resources. Cathay reflects his creative translation and adaptation of classical Chinese poetry, while Hugh Selwyn Mauberley is often regarded as representative of his poetic craft and critical reflection on his era. Pound's writing and editorial activity had a profound influence on formal innovation and international exchange in modern English-language poetry.