Translating Swift: Censorship and Self-Censorship during Fascism

Abstract

: This article studies censorship and self-censorship during the Fascist regime in Italy and the fine boundary between the two. It focuses, in particular, on the accuracy and adequacy of translations of Gulliver ’ s Travels in Fascist Italy, and analyses how responses to the Fascist “ revision ” system changed depending on law, patronage, and the material circumstances in which the translators worked. By examining the translations published during the regime, we can iden-tify different translation strategies that can be interpreted respectively as acts of submission to or resistance against the dominant way of thinking. In particular, I will analyse the first two translations of the full text of Gulliver ’ s Travels by Jonathan Swift, which, interestingly, were issued during the Fascist regime (in 1933 and 1934 respectively). In fact, I believe that a lack of critical analysis, stemming from the fact that Swift was a foreigner and the work was a classic “ universally recognized as such ” (as we read in a circular from the Minister of Popular Culture, Dino Alfieri, to the prefects), 1 left the way open for translations in first unabridged versions. seldom continues above Three Genera-tions, unless the Wife takes care to provide a healthy Father among her Neighbours, or Ac-quaintance, in order to improve and continue the Breed. That a weak diseased Body, a mea-ger Countenance, and sallow Complexion, are no uncommon Marks of a Great Man ; and a healthy robust Appearance is so far disgraceful in a Man of Quality, that the World is apt to conclude his real Father to have been one of the Inferiors of the Family, especially when it is seen that the Imperfections of his Mind run parallel with those of his Body and are little else than a Composition of Spleen, Dulness, Ignorance, Caprice, Sensuality, and Pride. Without the Consent of this illustrious Body, no Law can be enacted, repealed, or altered: And these Nobles have likewise the Decision of all our Possessions without Appeal. (Swift 2012, 385 – 387; italics in original)