Theory of Translation in the Sixteenth Century. Analyzing Nicholas Herberay Des Essarts’ Amadís De Gaula

“It is a pleasure to introduce a promising new colleague to the community of medieval and Renaissance scholars. In this contribution to the field of translation theory, Professor Paula Luteran has given us a commendable analysis of the thinking which guided Nicholas Herberay des Essarts’ sixteenth-century translation of the Amadis de Gaula, a late fifteenth-century text by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo. Readers of this carefully wrought book will find a text which leads them from a review of modern translation theories through a summary of medieval and Renaissance theories of translation onto a careful linguistic and philosophical analysis of Herberay des Essarts’ Amadis. Professor Luteran is thorough in her presentation of linguistic evidence supporting her conclusions about des Essarts’ approach to his task. In addition to her linguistic explication du texte Professor Luteran delineates the historical and socio-cultural context which played a significant part in shaping the choices des Essarts made as he created his vision of the Amadis. This well researched and carefully argued thesis is quite accessible to the non-specialist and will be a useful addition to the library of anyone whose major field of interest is translation theory. The publication of this volume signals the beginning of a career which holds great promise for continuing contributions to the research canon of medieval and Renaissance language studies. We are privileged to have this engaging teacher-scholar on our faculty.” – Dean Robert G. Schwartz, College of Arts and Sciences, Central Missouri State University

Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Modern Theories of Translation
2. Medieval and Renaissance Theories of Translation
3. Methodologies of Analysis
4. Preliminary Textual Analysis
5. Linguistic, Historical and Socio-cultural Factors Influencing the Translation
6. Literary Elements of the Translation
Conclusion
Appendix
Bibliography
Index