"Basically, the reader can finally understand what this book is about," the literary historian András Kappanyos, who was one of a team of four who made the new translation, said at the presentation of the new translation at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) on Wednesday.
The translators drew on the classic Hungarian translation by Miklós Szentkuthy, but this and other translations contained inaccuracies, Kappanyos said. "Of course, the translators were not responsible for many of the inaccuracies, considering that they did not have a digital version of the text or access to the internet," he added.
The translators' request from the copyright holders to publish the new translation went unanswered, so the book will probably not be in print until after January 1, 2012, when Ulysses enters the public domain. But it is hoped the translation can be made available online shortly at www.mjjum.hu.
Joyce's early work Stephen Hero is also expected to be published in Hungarian translation in two year's time.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI) / Photo: theworldsgreatbooks.com
