RaveAsymptoteBoth a story and a series of reflections on the act of translation, Revenge of the Translator sketches a dizzying map of connections between reader, author, translator, and character. Brice Matthieussent aims to empower translators rather than obscure them ... the novel creates a space for translators to regard their art as an organic interaction rather than a shameful invasion ... Emma Ramadan’s deft translation of Revenge of the Translator into English adds yet another layer to the plot. In a novel where translation is at the forefront of both theme and plot, the reader almost ironically recognizes Ramadan’s role as translator in this translation of a translation. Ramadan handles her complex task with masterful clarity as she embraces Matthieussent’s enthralling novel, his liberation of translation ... Wonderfully lost in the intricately woven plots, in the novel’s surreal atmosphere and rebellious humor, the reader encounters translation as a place for humanity—flawed, powerful, and shared.
