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Translations

By Brian Friel
0.0 (0 reviews)
3.86 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 10,231 ratings, 551 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Set in August 1833, Translations unfolds in a remote Irish-speaking community in County Donegal. The arrival of the Royal Engineers to conduct the Ordnance Survey forces a clash of cultures as they translate Gaelic place names into English. Brian Friel explores the profound and personal consequences of this seemingly bureaucratic task on the local people and their identity.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers interested in Irish culture, history, language, and the complexities of colonialism conveyed through powerful drama.

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The action takes place in late August 1833 at a hedge-school in the townland of Baile Beag, an Irish-speaking community in County Donegal.

A profound political and philosophical insight into the individual lives of a small Irish-speaking community living in the townland of Baile Beag in County Donegal.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The action takes place in late August 1833 at a hedgeschool in the townland of Baile Beag, an Irish-speaking community in County Donegal. In a nearby field camps a recently arrived detachment of the Royal Engineers, making the first Ordnance Survey.

For the purposes of cartography, the local Gaelic place names have to be recorded and rendered into English. In examining the effects of this operation on the lives of a small group, Brian Friel skilfully reveals the far-reaching personal and cultural effects of an action which is at first sight purely administrative.

Translations is a poignant exploration of the effects of language and its transformation on a community, illustrating the complex interplay between identity, culture, and colonial power.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Daily Telegraph hails Translations as a modern classic that engages both intellect and emotion, carrying significant political and philosophical weight through intimate character studies. The Sunday Times describes it as Friel's finest play: lyrical yet hard, deeply Irish yet universal, blending praise with lament.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780571117420

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 27 April 1981

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Faber & Faber

Edition: Main

Audience: Primary and secondary education

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 6.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 93g

Pages: 112

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Arts & Culture Brian Friel Non-Fiction

About the Author

Born 9 January 1929, Catholic, in Omagh, County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, Brian Friel is one of Ireland's most prominent playwrights. In addition to his published plays, he has written short stories; screenplays; film, TV and Radio adaptations of his plays; and several pieces of non-fiction on the role of theatre and the artist.

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