_ Mihail Eminescu - translations by A. G. Sahlean & al.
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Mihail Eminescu
(1850-1889)

This page is dedicated to the Romanian national poet
Mihail Eminescu  (1850-1889)
While Eminescu is often described as the essence of the Romanian soul, modern literary language in Romania is also much indebted to him. His work encompassed every genre of poetry (love, philosophical, cosmological, mythological, historical, socio-satiric, etc.) as well as prose and journalism. Eminescu is considered Europe's last great romantic not in the least because he gave voice of such unmistakable music to the sadness of love. His legacy, however, transcends the confines of Romanticism, the literary and philosophical Western traditions, the far east influences and even the obvious imprint of the Romanian folklore. Blessed with the touch of genius, his synthesis is a personal world of meaning about the life of man and of the cosmos in archetypal images of universal worth.
 
 
On this page, you are invited to sample my translations of 'Glossa' ('Glossa') 'La Steaua' ('Unto The Star') and 'Stelele-n Cer'  ('Stars In The Sky') as well as a fragment from the bilingual edition of 'Legenda Luceafarului'/'The Legend of the Evening Star' - i.e. the Eve Star's 'cosmic flight'. I have included all available renditions known to me of the same texts by other well-known translators of Eminescu. This is a unique feature unmatched by any other poetry site and is meant to give the reader a better insight into the difficulties related to translating Eminescu's content, musicality, style of language, etc. (more on this in the Translator's Note ) It is also a tribute to my colleagues, whose efforts are rarely known or seldom given their deserved recognition.




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