Brice Matthieussent has got even: this « language acrobat » (his own definition of a translator) dared facing anglo-saxon authors as John Fante, Paul Bowles, Jim Harrison, Bret Easton Ellis, Thomas McGuane, Charles Bukowski, Richard Ford... in order to translate so many of their novels into French. More than 200 novels! 40 years of translating!
He savours since August 2009 his very personal cold dish, probably, certainly afore-thought for a long time: « La vengeance du traducteur » (The translator's revenge), his first novel.
The 30th of April , Friday at 6.30 pm, Brice Matthieussent, philosopher, teaching at the Art School in Marseilles, and Jean Cristofol, teaching at the Art School in Aix en Provence,
met at the bookshop : "A l'encre bleue" , (down in « L'Estaque »).
This meeting, finally without any rivalry (!), did certainly NOT lead to any idle talk, but WAS INDEED a conversation on the stairs about, around “La vengeance du traducteur”.
This conversation COULD carry on at the Association and writing residency HĂ–FN (up in Verduron) around a friendly buffet.
There, dishes were served cold (but also warm and hot!), as well as soft or not so soft drinks for 12 euros per capita.
One had to to book in advance (only for the buffet) at the bookshop "A l'encre bleue" librairie Jeunesse, Littérature, Loisirs créatifs.
86, bd R. Chieusse - 13016 - MARSEILLE. Tel.: 04 91 51 46 96.
Mail: encrebleue@orange.fr
About 40 people (the bookshop "A l'encre bleue" would not accomodate many more; it is clear, warm, simple, cosy but tiny) attended this discussion between Brice Matthieussent and Jean Cristofol. A conversation "on the stairs", as previously expected , which was widely supported, far beyond Brice Matthieussent's novel, with his thoughts and own experience(s), the expression of the obvious passion and talent he has developped for many years (and still does) as a translator.
By the bookshop, waiting for the opening of the evening...
In the bookshop...
In the bookshop, between B. Matthieussent (right) et Jean Cristofol (left), the beginning of their conversation "on the stairs", actually sitting comfortably on red armchairs...
The buffet took place at Jean Cristofol and Dominique Poulain's place, neighbouring the residency HĂ–FN. In many aspects, this buffet referred to "Vengeance du traducteur" ("The translator's revenge"). A puppet, oddly hanging from the ceiling, reminded Goya's painting "The puppet", more than once depicted and present in Brice Matthieussent's novel; Diane Arbus' photographs: The Twin Sisters, and the Giant, who appear as well in the novel, were displayed on the table among the dishes, some of which also precisely described in a key episode in a plane...
Before the guests arrived...
The entrees/ appetizers/ first courses
Frédérique Lagny, artist, resident at HÖFN during this period (April, May).
Secrets and incantations...
From l., to r.: Julien Blaine, poet, Jean Cristofol, Lina Jabbour, artist, Eddie Godeberge, musician
From l. to r.: Dominique Poulain, HĂ–FN manageress, Brice Matthieussent , Jean Cristofol.
Dominique Poulain gives the puppet/mannequin (more an interpretation, (a translation?), than a reproduction) that she has made from Goya's painting, to Brice Matthieussent (seemingly quite worried!...)
