Caligula

I recently stumbled upon a delightful surprise – a book I’d translated! The manuscript was tucked away, buried beneath a folder from my Montreal days, nestled amongst unfinished drafts and translation projects that I’d started but, somewhere along the way, abandoned.

This particular project, however, was complete. Perhaps that’s because the book itself is so incredibly entertaining and was perfectly within my abilities. I was completely immersed in French at the time, and I remember feeling thrilled to find such a gem – a little book that was both satisfying on a literary level and also manageable for my French skills.

Back when I was translating this, I don’t think it had been published in Chinese. Things have changed, of course, and it’s now 2025! But even after a quick peek at the published version, I have a hunch my translation might still hold its own.

One thing that really sets this play apart is the beautifully simple language. Forget the flowery prose of Proust or other French masters. This is the same direct style that made The Stranger so iconic: “Maman died today. Or maybe yesterday, I don’t know.”

This play is a perfect showcase of Camus’s crisp, almost telegraphic style. Some translations I’ve seen floating around tend to add unnecessary flourishes. Let’s just look at the first three lines to see what I mean…

I have nothing against a bit of flourish in a translation, provided it’s actually present in the original! As a translator, I’m quite passionate about accuracy – not just capturing the meaning, but also mirroring the original style. Honestly, a little part of me withers whenever I stumble upon a wonky translation. And in this day and age, with new terms and evolving meanings popping up constantly, it’s a bigger challenge than ever to get it just right.