The Reception of Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska’s Translated Poetry in Bulgaria

Abstract

The aim of the present article is to trace the reception in Bulgaria of the works of the Polish poetess Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska, who published during the interwar period. The translations of her poems into Bulgarian, published in poetry
collections, anthologies, and periodicals, are extensively presented. It can be said, that the reception of the works of the poetess associated with the literary group Skamander was somewhat delayed in Bulgaria. Her poems were first published in 1936, fourteen years after the publication of her first poetry collection in 1922. Although this is not a significant period of time, by the time some of her works were translated into Bulgarian, eleven poetry collections by the poetess had been published. The main translators of her poetry are Slava Shtiplieva and Panayot Karagyozov. The article also examines some of the main characteristics of the poetess’s work (including her preference for small poetic forms, conciseness, and the punchline), as well as the characteristics of the poetic text, that influence translation decisions. The author emphasizes the importance of the imagery of poetic language, points out the difficulties associated with translating poetry from Polish to Bulgarian, and analyzes her own translation of the poem Pamiątki (Memories). In conclusion, it can be noted that the translated works of Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska nto Bulgarian, although originating from various poetry collections, are not sufficient for the complete and adequate presentation of the works of Polish poetess to the Bulgarian reader.