Ideology and the Translation of Classic Children’s Literature: (Re)Considering Jules Verne’s Un capitaine de quinze ans

Abstract

Ideally, a translation should remain faithful to the source text in a way that keeps the translator invisible. In practice, however, numerous forces intervene, reshaping the text to align with various forms of patronage and, in turn, rendering the translator visible as they effectively rewrite the original. This article examines the notion of ideology in translation, specifically, how the ideological manipulation of the original leads to shifts in translations that ultimately shape readers’ perceptions. Our study draws on Jules Verne’s Un capitaine de quinze ans, a work that has been translated numerous times and has long been beloved by young readers within the Greek literary polysystem, even though contemporary translations of it are now nonexistent. Recognizing the significance of ideology and translational shifts, particularly in texts addressed to young readers, this study employs a Descriptive Translation Studies framework and engages in dialogue with Postcolonial Theory and Posthumanist Theory to investigate how manipulation may be embedded within the translated text.