In celebrating the academic career and practice of a distinguished scholar of French literature
this volume concentrates on one of Peter Broome's major preoccupations and attainments:
translation. Eschewing a dogmatic theoretical approach the contributors (former colleagues
and students) tackle four rich areas of study: modern anglophone poets' reactions to and
translations of authors with whom they have closely identified (Racine the Symbolists
Saint-John Perse Valéry) problematics of translating specific poets of recent centuries
(Rimbaud Mallarmé Valéry Césaire some contemporary poets) reception and interaction in two
foreign countries (Australia Spain) and a more fluid interpretation of translation moving
the notion across into wider realms of literary expression (Mallarmé Proust Assia Djebar). A
focalising feature punctuating the volume are Peter Broome's own translations of hitherto
unpublished poems by five major contemporary French writers: Jean-Paul Auxeméry Marie-Claire
Bancquart Louise Herlin Vénus Khoury-Ghata and Jean-Charles Vegliante. The book thus
intertwines theory and practice in a non-prescriptive manner which invites further elaboration
and analysis.
