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'The poems of The Flowers of Evil were written in Paris at a time of revolution and accelerating change - the beginning of mass culture, the rise of consumerism and the middle-class, the radical redevelopment of the city by Haussmann - and they provide many parallels with the malaise and uncertainties of contemporary capitalist societies. Here we find poems about love (and love-hate), birds and beasts, Paris scenes and street people; about spiritual revolt, wine, death, travel and far-away places. The poet's voice is by turns ironical, angry and compassionate, his words charged with anguish, desire and rapture. Jan Owen's masterly translation captures all of this in a selection that includes many of Baudelaire's best known poems - including those banned from 1857 edition - as well as some less familiar ones, with the volume leading up to his great long poem, 'The Voyage', and finishing with the much-loved sonnet 'Meditation'.' (Publication summary)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Jan Owen, The Offhand Angel: New and Selected Poems and Charles Baudelaire, Selected Poems from Les Fleurs Du Mal
2017
single work
essay
— Appears in: Transnational Literature , May vol. 9 no. 2 2017; 'As an undergraduate in the 1980s, I took French translation classes with the famous Professor Colin Duckworth at Melbourne University. I was less impressed then than I am now at his story of sleeping in Voltaire’s own bed (sans Voltaire, needless to say); and we all did grow rather tired of hearing about Samuel Beckett, on whom he was a world authority. I had left university by the time he started acting in Neighbours; probably that would have impressed me most of all. However, his approach to language, as a writer, critic and translator, has stayed with me. He was superb at demonstrating the balance between accuracy and tone in the choice of words; how sometimes a less literal translation could more effectively capture meaning and mood. Nowhere is striking this balance more critical than in poetry.' (Introduction) -
Shock of the New
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , January-February no. 378 2016; (p. 45)
— Review of Selected Poems from Les Fleurs Du Mal Jan Owen (translator), 2015 selected work poetry -
Found in Translation
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 16-17 January 2016; (p. 19)
— Review of Selected Poems from Les Fleurs Du Mal Jan Owen (translator), 2015 selected work poetry ; The Offhand Angel : New and Selected Poems 2015 selected work poetry ; Hoard 2015 selected work poetry -
Judith Bishop Reviews Selected Poems from Les Fleurs Du Mal by Charles Baudelaire (trans. Jan Owen)
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: Mascara Literary Review , September no. 19 2016;
— Review of Selected Poems from Les Fleurs Du Mal Jan Owen (translator), 2015 selected work poetry
-
Found in Translation
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 16-17 January 2016; (p. 19)
— Review of Selected Poems from Les Fleurs Du Mal Jan Owen (translator), 2015 selected work poetry ; The Offhand Angel : New and Selected Poems 2015 selected work poetry ; Hoard 2015 selected work poetry -
Shock of the New
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , January-February no. 378 2016; (p. 45)
— Review of Selected Poems from Les Fleurs Du Mal Jan Owen (translator), 2015 selected work poetry -
Judith Bishop Reviews Selected Poems from Les Fleurs Du Mal by Charles Baudelaire (trans. Jan Owen)
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: Mascara Literary Review , September no. 19 2016;
— Review of Selected Poems from Les Fleurs Du Mal Jan Owen (translator), 2015 selected work poetry -
Jan Owen, The Offhand Angel: New and Selected Poems and Charles Baudelaire, Selected Poems from Les Fleurs Du Mal
2017
single work
essay
— Appears in: Transnational Literature , May vol. 9 no. 2 2017; 'As an undergraduate in the 1980s, I took French translation classes with the famous Professor Colin Duckworth at Melbourne University. I was less impressed then than I am now at his story of sleeping in Voltaire’s own bed (sans Voltaire, needless to say); and we all did grow rather tired of hearing about Samuel Beckett, on whom he was a world authority. I had left university by the time he started acting in Neighbours; probably that would have impressed me most of all. However, his approach to language, as a writer, critic and translator, has stayed with me. He was superb at demonstrating the balance between accuracy and tone in the choice of words; how sometimes a less literal translation could more effectively capture meaning and mood. Nowhere is striking this balance more critical than in poetry.' (Introduction)