Cambridge Scholars Publishing Translating Mind Matters in Twenty-First-Century French Women’s Writing

Attitudes towards, and strategies for treating, those who suffer from abnormal mental states have evolved considerably over the centuries, and these are reflected in the various literary genres of all eras. In its introduction, this book provides a concise, yet thorough, overview of this phenomenon, citing key examples taken from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century. Each of the eight chapters which constitute Part One of this study then focuses on representations of a particular mental health issue in a work of literature produced by a twenty-first-century French woman writer. Considering the causes and symptoms of the given condition, it situates the representation of its treatment in relation to current attitudes and practices in the West. Inspired by the concept that reading literature which concentrates on mental health problems can be both informative and of comfort to those affected by such issues, Part Two provides detailed textual analyses, and discusses the English-language versions, of four works examined in Part One which already exist in translation. Suggesting how these may be of benefit to an Anglophone readership, it recommends that the four remaining texts, which may be equally helpful, are suitable for translation into English. About the Author Dr Claire Ellender worked at the Université de Lille, France, as a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in Translation, from 2007 to 2018. She is the author of a wide range of publications in the field of Translation Studies, including the books Preserving Polyphonies: Translating the Writings of Claude Sarraute (2013); Dealing with Difference in Audiovisual Translation: Subtitling Linguistic Variation in Films (2015); and Coping with Comedy in Audiovisual Translation: Subtitling Humorous Representations of Otherness in Films (2017). Over the years, she has also developed a strong interest in mental health; she is a qualified CBT therapist and her fourth book, Soothing the Self: Facts, Inspirations and Tips for Body, Mind and Spirit was published in 2018. She is currently an independent scholar and translator.