“微音讯逝”的《乌有乡消息》首译本

大革命失败后,进步人士渴望在左翼书籍中找到出路;1930年,威廉·莫里斯的《乌有乡消息》全译本应运而生。林微音的译本看似“忠实”,却置换了其中最重要的概念并“陌生化”了书名与作者名,间离了读者层累积十年的阅读期待。如此种种翻译策略看似规避国民党当局查禁,实则寄寓了林微音消极的人生态度和“为艺术而艺术”的文艺观。“摩登”的林微音为译本晕染了一抹彼时黄埔滩头消费主义的色彩,使“去左翼化”进一步滑向“庸俗化”。因此,该译本不仅有负20世纪30年代读者以革命文学促成革命政治的期待,亦难以规避查禁。“上下”交困的首译本虽“微音迅逝”,但莫里斯所倡导的艺术社会主义却渐成时代强音。

A Fleeting Voice of the First Complete Chinese Version of News from Nowhere

A complete Chinese version of William Morris's News from Nowhere emerged in 1930 when intellectuals were desperately looking for a way out from left-wing books following the defeat of the Great Revolution. Disguised by its seemingly faithfulness, this Chinese version deviated from the author's most essential concept and de-familiarized the established translation of both the book's title and author, and alienated readers' expectations. His translation strategies could easily be justified as an effort to evade the official censorship, but it virtually reflected his pessimistic view of life and aestheticist understanding of art.Lin Weiyin also unconsciously brushed a touch of consumerism of modern Shanghai, and the left-wing thought was further compromised by vulgarity. His translation neither lived up to the expectations of 1930s' readers with strong political awareness nor escaped the censorship. However, William Morris's Artistic Socialism outlived the fleeting voice, gradually becoming a strong note of the time.