Jansen McClurg & Co–ZT 13.12.1882

Jansen, McClurg & Co. till Zacharias Topelius 13.12.1882

Chicago, Dec. 13:th 1882.

Prof. Z. Topelius,
University of Åbo,
Åbo, – Finland.

Dear Sir,

1 We take much pleasure in sending you, to-day, the first volume of our intended series of your ”Fältskärns Berättelser”, translated into English as ”The Surgeon’s Stories”. It is our design to complete the series in six volumes.

2 Regarding this translation, we beg leave to say, that our earnest desire has been to make it as perfect a piece of literary work as possible; and to this end we have spared neither pains, time, nor expense. Although owning the copyright of an earlier translation, together with the electrotype plates of this first volume, we became so conscious of the serious defects of that version, and so desirous of a more adequate and artistic rendering of the original, that we chose to incur the additional heavy expense of an entirely new translation, and of new type-setting and electrotyping. We are aware that inferior translations may, and often do, sell well for a time,|| and may even be more directly profitable to the publisher than those produced by a higher and more expensive grade of qualifications. But we have been so strongly impressed with not only the remarkable historic and romantic interest of these works, but also with their rare literary merit – their high imaginative power, and their grace and charm of style – that it became our ambition to bring them out in a translation which in these respects also should be worthy of them: a translation which should combine the essentials of fidelity to the original with good English style, and (most difficult of all) which should succeed in seizing and reproducing, so far as is possible in a translation, the individuality of style which is the very spirit and genius of a work so poetic and imaginative as your great romances. – This has been our steady and conscientious aim. How far we have succeeded in it, others can judge as well as we.

3 We take the liberty of mailing to you, in the same package, a copy of the previous translation of the first volume: and to a comparison of the merits of the two versions, as well as a critical examination of our later one, per se, we would respectfully bespeak your attention. It would greatly please us to have this comparison as searching as possible; but not to ask too much of you, we would in particular|| beg to direct your attention to the two lyrics on pp. 183–4–5 of our new version, entirely omitted in the other; and to the opening passages of Chapter X., Part III.

4 We regret to feel compelled, before closing this communication, to refer briefly to a matter to which we had intended making no allusion, but which the action of Miss Marie A. Brown, the translator of the earlier edition, will not permit us to pass unnoticed. We have before us a letter from Miss Brown, to a third party in America, in which she announces an intention to prejudice you against our translation, and to create the impression that we have treated her unfairly. The first point we meet by laying before you, both translations. To the second, we answer that we purchased of Miss Brown her translation of the entire ”Surgeon’s Stories”, paying her therefor the sum of nine hundred dollars, for which we have receipts. We may frankly admit that we learned only too soon thereafter that we had made a very bad bargain – the results of over-confidence in Miss Brown’s ability as a translator, based not alone upon her|| representations, but also upon some seemingly strong testimonials from others, who perhaps, had, like ourselves, measured her literary ability by her enthusiasm; and under these influences we neglected making a sufficiently critical examination of her work, and a comparison of it with the original. This proved, of course, greatly to our disadvantage. Yet it must be sufficiently obvious to you, and to everyone except Miss Brown, that, had her translation been what we supposed it to be, and what, from her representations and credentialsoläsligt p.g.a. konservering/inbindning we had a right to expect, we could have had no possible motive for putting ourselves to the trouble and expense of a new one, and of new type-setting, etc. Yet we made no complaint to Miss Brown, nor any demand for the return of the money paid her. Our disappointment, and an explanation caseoläsligt p.g.a. konservering/inbindning were expressed to her courteously and kindly. She replied in a letter which we cannot but think hasty and ill-advised, demanding, among other unreasonable things, that we return to her the entire MS. of her translation. We have written her, expressing our readiness to do this upon return of the money which we paid her for the work. We do not see how we could be expected to do more. We have no ill-will toward Miss Brown, not withstanding that we have suffered heavily by her.oläsligt p.g.a. konservering/inbindning|| It is by her own action that we are forced to acquaint you with these details; and the same will be true of any further publicity, which, in self-defense, we may feel compelled to give to her failure as a translator into English.

5 Before closing, permit us to say that in undertaking this enterprise we have borne in mind, not only a sense of our obligation to protect your literary reputation from the injury of a bad translation, but have also not been unmindful of your interests as an author, which, although not protected by international copyright, we have been disposed to recognize honorably in any financial success which our enterprise might meet; and notwithstanding the unfortunate double burden of expense with which it starts, we shall still hope that this edition of your works may receive such support from the American public as will enable us, out of profits which may accrue, to extend to you a suitable and tangible acknowledgment.

6 We trust you will appreciate the necessity of, and pardon us for, this somewhat|| lengthy statement, – which we have, however, sought to make as brief and clear as possible. And we beg you to accept the expression of our sincere, and high regard, and to believe us,

Very respectfully yours,

Jansen McClurg & Co