Translating Jane with Cristy Hulsz

Have you ever wondered if Jane Austen truly does have universal appeal? Here to answer that question today is Cristy Hulsz, who specializes in translating Austenesque Variations into Spanish. Cristy has a heart for sharing Jane Austen’s genius and stoking the flames of JAFF even for people who do not or prefer not to read in English. It is a pleasure to introduce you to this lovely lady.

–NC

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf

You could say that Tolkien was my first love, reading the trilogy when I was nine. Austen would come to my life some years later, but since then she’s become one of my inspirations.

I was born in Mexico and now living in the US with my husband, my own Cap. Wentworth. It’s a huge change, but a happy one, well, actually two, as we recently got married and I can’t be happier. My hubby knows about Darcy, and he was also shy like the owner of Pemberley.

My love for literature and languages was inspired and encouraged by my family and teachers throughout my life. Since I was a child I’ve been always carrying a book and a notebook wherever I go.

I say that I found Austen out of curiosity in the library (my second home) when I was a teenager, but it would be Austen found me again just a couple of years ago, out of nowhere and somehow that changed my life.

It was because of Austen I decided I wanted to become a translator, although at that time I was not aware of all the implications to be a literary translator, but little by little and thanks to the guide of awesome translators and teachers, I’m getting want I want to do for the rest of my life.

I started as a translator last year, after studying at the University of Guanajuato, and to my surprise it has been full of amazing opportunities, like working with Nicole Clarkston and being closer to those JAFF authors I admire.

We started with Rumors and Recklessness (Rumores e imprudencias), London Holiday (Vacaciones en Londres) is ready to go and Nefarious will be up for next year. The first two books were great fun, but the third is going to be challenge. If you haven’t read it, Nefarious takes a quite different variation on Pride and Prejudice as Darcy has a dark side on which you almost want to kick him. The book is totally worth it.

I would like to work with more JAFF authors, because these ladies are fun, great writers and theirs books are really entertaining.

Who is the most fun character for you to read or translate?

As I have been working with Nicole, I would say between Lady Catherine and Darcy, because although you think you know these characters, they might surprise you.

What are some of the challenging phrases in English that you find don’t translate literally?

Challenging phrases for me are those ones that imply idioms that only work in English and specially those that refer to the Regency era.

Jane Austen’s writings appeal to people for different reasons, and it’s astonishing how well she translates to today’s society. What is it about her world that appeals to you?

I think what appeal to me about Austen’s writing was the importance of family, respect, love and that even when you make some mistakes, you solve them, and always count on those ones who are always for you.

Which would you say it is about Jane Austen that you admire the most?

How her family, specially her father and her siblings always support her writing, how Henry make sure to publish Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. That prologues he wrote on the 1817 edition, I think was a sweet goodbye to his sister. Though, it’s sad how many letters where destroyed. As an translator I’m happily waiting for the Spanish edition of The Chawton letters, by Kathryn Sutherland, which talks about the letters that are in the Jane Austen’s House Museum. How will those letters sound in Spanish?

Where can people go to find more translations, both of Jane Austen’s books and novels inspired by her?

For that, we have a long way to go. For what I have found, there’re between 400 and 500 novels (prequels, sequels and variations) inspired in the novels of Austen. As about 20 to 40 books specialized in Austen’s life and time.

In the following page of Austen Variations, author Abigail Reynolds has assembled some of these novels which have been translated to different languages, though we (translators) have a long way to go. This is one of the reasons why I decided to start this year, along with other wonderful Austen fans the JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY OF MEXICO. Most of the team are translators and one of our main goals is to be able to work alongside the authors and translate those books about Austen’s life, the Regency period and even get better editions of Austen’s novels in Spanish.

You can visit: jasmex.wordpress.com or write to: contacto@jasmx.org  They will be glad to hear from you.

I want to thank Nicole Clarkston for this interview.