France is renowned for its rich literary heritage: Molière, Voltaire, Balzac and Hugo are just a few of the country’s home-grown greats.
This year, however, could finally see English novelist Jane Austen muscle in on their territory thanks to a new translation of Emma by Clémentine Beauvais.
The 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth coincided with the release of a new cover for Ms Beauvais’ 2023 translation by Le Livre de Poche.
“The idea is to signal right from the cover that we're dealing with an eminently modern author, by taking her out of this very classic, romantic straitjacket," said Joséphine Arnould, editor at the publishing house.
“Of course, Jane Austen wrote some wonderful love stories, but the heart of her work lies elsewhere, and that's what we're trying to show."
Austen completed just six books before she died in 1817, aged 41. Her novels are adored around the world, but in France they have struggled to find an audience.
For Phalène de La Valette, founder of arts festival Cultissime, the frenzy surrounding period TV series Downton Abbey and Bridgerton finally inspired her to read Austen in English.
“I realised all the French translations were very different from the original. I couldn't find the same lightness of style and humour,” the 35-year-old said.
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“I learned they were very much linked to the way Jane Austen arrived in France in the first place, through the translation by a novelist who was writing sentimental novels.”
That was Isabelle de Montolieu, whose heavily romanticised versions of Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion set the tone for future French translations that blunted the irony and humour that make Austen so enjoyable.
“I wanted to find a way to give the French public a different perception. That's how the ‘Jane’ project came about. I needed a translator who knew both cultures perfectly; someone who had the kind of wit and sense of humour that could work with Austen. That's how I came to think of Clémentine Beauvais.”
Phalène and Clémentine say translations are usually over-romanticisedClémentine Beauvais/Instagram
Ms de La Valette contacted the author, translator and University of York lecturer, and laid out her vision for a series of books, including translations, united by the spirit of Austen.
“I thought that was a really coherent and interesting editorial line,” said Ms Beauvais.
“We both felt the humour of Austen had not quite reached the consciousness of French people. I think a lot of them, to this day, are quite surprised when you tell them that it's funny.”
Ms Beauvais was able to choose which Austen novel she wanted to translate and opted for Emma, the longest. Despite that, she did not feel the weight of Austen’s reputation bearing down on her.
New reinterpretationStudio LGF
“My view is that any translation is a kind of reinterpretation of a text, and it gives it a new life and breathes a new spirit into it.
“When you read other translations, very often they are by people who are Austen specialists, which I definitely couldn't claim to be. I had to be extremely careful to not misunderstand aspects of society or culture of the time, but Phalène [who was the editor] was also very rigorous with that. We were very thorough in checking as much as we could.”
Speaking about the writing process, Ms Beauvais said: “I felt like I had a connection to her style of writing and I'd already parodied it in French, so it didn't feel like a voice that was too far from mine. It was really pleasant to translate. Long and arduous but also really nice.”
For Ms de La Valette, the new cover is an ambition realised. Two years ago, she published Austen Power, a collection of essays to persuade French readers – including boys and men – to pick up the English author’s books.
“The simple fact of putting little flowers [on the cover] insinuates it’s aimed at girls, yet boys who read Austen are often completely won over: it's not a women-only read. Literary journalist Augustin Trapenard, for example, is a huge fan,” Ms de La Valette said.
“I really hope Clementine’s translation will appeal to people who thought they knew Austen and they'll be able to rediscover her, or discover her for the first time. I hope they realise that it's not all about marriage.”
Jane Austen's French connection
Jane Austen never travelled to France but the country’s language made an impression on her, according to Joan Austen-Leigh, the author’s great-great-great niece and co-founder of the Jane Austen Society of North America.
Born in December 1775, Jane apparently read French from a young age. Her library included Jean de la Fontaine’s Fables Choisies, L’ami de l’adolescence by Arnaud Berquin, and Les Veillées du Château by Madame de Genlis.
Austen may also have learned the language from her mother Cassandra, who was believed to have spoken “excellent” French.
French phrases and words are scattered throughout Austen’s letters to her sister, though many accents are missing and she made spelling mistakes.
She used them more sparingly in her novels but preferred ‘adieu’ to goodbye. The former is recorded 21 times, while the latter only twice, in Sense and Sensibility, and The Watsons.
