Distending bridges: translating works by Clara Janés

Abstract

One of the things that attract the attention of the literary work of Clara Janés is her extensive translator work. Winner of the National Translation Award and the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts, the Spanish writer is constantly exploring new horizons and approaching to the Western reader the most varied literatures. She translates many of the most important Czech poets, honors her former admiration for China and Japan moving into the language of Cervantes the verses of Wang Wei and Du Fu and the delicate Noh plays, and recognizes herself especially in mystic verses of Persian Sufis. She doesn´t always know the language of origin but the results are invariably successful for, according to her, the translation of poetry is a must that is always worthy as poetry is an important vehicle of cultural communication.