Chapter 12 Preface to the Translation of "Little Peter"

These six coherent fairy tales were originally translated by Hayashi Fango [2] in Japan (published by Hyosungaku in Tokyo in 1927), and I selected them for the translator for learning Japanese.After learning it one by one, I translated it smoothly, and the result was this Chinese book.However, I don't think it's wrong for those who learn foreign languages ​​to choose fairy tales soon after they start. However, it is not appropriate to translate fairy tales at the beginning, because it is easy to stick to the original text and dare not to translate freely, which makes readers feel confused. strenuous.This translation originally had this problem, so when I revised it, I made a lot of revisions to make it more fluent. ——That is to say, if any inadequacies arise because of this, it is already the responsibility of the corrector.

The author, Hermynia Zur Mueh-len (Hermynia Zur Mueh-len) [3], looks like a German or Austrian surname, but I don't know her deeds.According to the preface of another fairy tale "The City of Truth" by the same author translated by the same original translator (published by the Southern Song Dynasty Academy in 1928), she is a Hungarian female writer, but now she seems to be working exclusively in Germany. Her name can always be found in all the periodicals of militant scientific socialism—especially the pages dedicated to youth and adolescents.There are quite a few works, with close observation and solid articles, enough to become one of the real socialist writers, and it is probably because of the original fairy tale cloud that made her famous all over the world.

Needless to say, the author's original intention was to write it for the children of laborers, but when it was imported to China, the result was not the same.The first reason is that the children of laborers do not have the turn to receive education, and cannot understand the square characters and plaid-like articles, so for them, this has nothing to do with it, not to mention that they have no money to buy books. and no time to read.However, even in the eyes of educated children, the result is still different from that in other countries.why?First, it is still because of the article. The shortcomings of the satirical words in the fifth part of the story can be said to be almost all of our articles.Second, the backgrounds used in the first four chapters of this story are: coal mines, forests, glass factories, and dyeing factories; I am afraid that most readers have never experienced them, so the impression is of course not very clear.Third, the author is regarded as a "true socialist writer", I think, here, he advocates everyone's right to life (Part 2), advocates that everything should be obtained by fighting (at the end of Part 6), etc. It can be seen that wearing a fairy tale flower dress can cover up some beautiful blood and sweat.Especially when there are only a few such fairy tales in China, and there is no basic and solid literature to help them.Moreover, I think that the words of Zhongyin Teapot in the fifth chapter are too delicate, trivial, and feminine, which may be easier to resonate in China now, but it should be ignored.Fourth, although the objects in the story are very common in Europe and the United States, even middle-class people in China have never seen them.The stove is one of them; the water bottles and cups are pot-bellied glass bottles and oblong glasses, which in our place can only be seen on the tables of western restaurants and in the second-class cabins of steamboats.Centella is not a common plant for us, there are some, and it is called "Swert's Ear Asarum" (what a troublesome name!) in medicine books. At the end of the day, small white or light red flowers will bloom to "report the good news that winter is coming to an end".It is called "snow mowing grass" in Japan, and that's what it is.Poxuecao is also a free translation of the Japanese name. I used it in "Peach-colored Clouds" [4], and now I also use it. It seems to be better than the old-fashioned "deer's ear Asarum".

All in all, once the work was moved, the effect was not as good as the author expected.If you insist on adding a meaning, then, at most, it may be a list for adults who are still innocent, or those who have not worked but have forgotten the industrious people, or for those who pay attention to world literature, report on modern labor. In the world of literature, there is only such a writer and such a kind of work. There are six illustrations by George Grosz in the original translation, which are now added, but because of several reprints, poor Chinese plate-making techniques, and the irresponsibility of the plate-makers, almost all of the original work has been lost. The benefits, - especially as in the second picture, - can only be counted as an introduction with an empty name.Gross is a German, originally one of the Dadaismus (Dadaismus), but later turned to the left.According to the Hungarian critic Matza (IAMatza), this is because his art studio was imprisoned.During the European War, everyone used poisonous gas to fight. He once drew a satirical picture[7], and put a mouth mask to avoid poisonous gas on the mouth of Jesus crucified, so he suffered a lot. Punishment is also a famous thing, and some people still remember it.On September 15, 1929, the school was completed.

BB [1] This article was originally printed in the Chinese translation of "Little Peter" published by Shanghai Chunchao Book Company in November 1929. "Little Peter", originally called "Stories Telled by Little Peter's Friends", was translated by Xu Xia (Xu Guangping) and revised by Lu Xun. [2] Hayashi Fangxiong (1903-1975) Japanese novelist and militarist. 〔3〕Herminia Zhier Miaolun (1883-1951) German female writer.Born in Vienna, he traveled to many countries in Europe and Asia with his father in childhood.She is familiar with workers' life and has participated in German proletarian literature activities.Under the oppression of the German Nazi Party in 1933, he went into exile for a long time.In addition to "Little Peter" and "City of Truth" mentioned in the article, her works also include "Rose" and "Ali the Carpet Weaver".

〔4〕"Peach-Colored Clouds" is a fairy tale drama written by Russian Ai Luosenke, and Lu Xun's Chinese translation was published in July 1923 by Beijing Xinchao Press. 〔5〕George Gross (1893-1959), a German satirist and frame designer, immigrated to the United States in 1933. 〔6〕Macha, a Hungarian literary critic, was born in the Czech Republic; he moved to the Soviet Union in 1923 and engaged in the teaching and research of art theory.For his comments on Gross, see his book "The Art of Modern Europe" (Chinese translation by Feng Xuefeng, published by Shanghai Dajiang Bookstore in June 1930).

[7] Refers to the "Crucifix" painted by Gross in 1923.In 1925, he was interrogated by the German authorities for painting "Mirror of the Bourgeoisie".