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Xiaoshuo yuebao (1921–1931) as a Cultural Mediator of Small Literatures in China

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Literary Translation and Cultural Mediators in 'Peripheral' Cultures

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Abstract

This article seeks to contribute to the well-established research about the Xiaoshuo yuebao (The Short Story Magazine). It sheds light on the networks and multiple professional roles of editors and translators related to the journal. Rethinking the central-peripheral dichotomy in the circulation of literary texts, it also describes the journal as an example of how to introduce literatures from the world. Furthermore, a number of translated texts through a third mediating language are listed and thus, give ground to a discussion about indirect translation and establishment of new translation norms by Mao Dun and his peers. A brief analysis of a translation of Blasco Ibáñez’s story is offered at the end in order to show these aspects.

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Chen, Y. (2018). Xiaoshuo yuebao (1921–1931) as a Cultural Mediator of Small Literatures in China. In: Roig-Sanz, D., Meylaerts, R. (eds) Literary Translation and Cultural Mediators in 'Peripheral' Cultures. New Comparisons in World Literature. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78114-3_5

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