Natalia Teplova

Tolstoy’s Resurrection on the Japanese stage: A case of indirect theatrical adaptation

Tolstoy’s last novel Resurrection, published in 1899 in Russia, met with great success abroad, not only in translation but also in theatrical adaptation. As of 1902, these adaptations multiplied and were soon circulating around the world, from France to Great Britain and the United States, from Great Britain to Japan, etc. However, none of these productions was based on the original text. For the present conference, we will analyze the 1914 adaptation of Tolstoy’s Resurrection for the Japanese stage, a work which could be described as an indirect theatrical adaptation in the fifth degree. Where did this adaptation come from? What are the four degrees that preceded it? What role did translation play in this project? These are just some of the questions, among many others, that will inform our study of this particular case.

Keywords: translation, adaptation, Tolstoy

Biography

Natalia Teplova is an Associate Professor in the Department of French Studies at Concordia University. She is interested in literary translation theory and practice in and beyond the Western sphere, focusing, in particular, on questions related to different forms of literary translation (transfer) across cultures, languages and time. Her current research projects include studies on indirect adaptation (Tolstoy adapted for the French, British and Japanese stage), intersemiotic translation (Japanese calligraphy and translation), and censorship and translation in Russia.