From “Light in August” to “Luce d'agosto”

Elio Vittorini's Literary Offences

Abstract

Luce d'agosto, Elio Vittorini's translation of Light in August, published in 1939 and still the only translation available to date, has had a profound and long lasting influence on the reception of Faulkner's work in Italy. This paper focuses on the highly questionable quality of that translation, analyzing in particular some of the many changes, excisions, and additions that Vittorini forced upon the original text, all of which helped to create a considerably distorted image of Faulkner's art among the Italian public. Ultimately, the paper discusses the cultural context within which Vittorini operated, and the reasons - both literary and political - that may have prompted his heavy-handed editorial stance.