One of the best books I ever read was Garcia Marquez’s ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE way back when… and the translator was a guy named Gregory Rabassa. 82 now, and writing his own memories of being a translator. Fans of the SOLITUDE and translations in general might find this link interesting. From the New York Times today:
nytimes.com/2004/05/25/books/25RABA.html
Even Garcia Marquez said that Rabbassa had rewritten an entirely new book. Puts a new spin on translators’ talents.
titled: A Translator’s Long Journey, Page by Page