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Johann Nestroy, the ancestor of the Austrian avant-garde: when the language speaks and the translation does (not) get stuck

Abstract

Johann Nepomuk Nestroy (1801-1862) was one of the most important playwrights in the history of Austrian theater. He was an acclaimed actor and author during his time, and he is also a reference writer and a huge influence for many canonical Austrian writers in the 20th and early 21st centuries, who today define themselves as debtors of his dramaturgical poetics (for instance, Karl Kraus ou Elfriede Jelinek). The article highlights the role of Nestroy as an “ancestor” for part of Austrian literature, and also looks at the only translation of a Nestroy play available in Brazil (Cacique Vento-da-Tarde ou O festim do horror, 1990), in order to call into question the common view of Nestroy's work as “intranslatable”.

Keywords:
Johann Nestroy; Austrian literature; Translation

Universidade de São Paulo/Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas/; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Língua e Literatura Alemã Av. Prof. Luciano Gualberto, 403, 05508-900 São Paulo/SP/ Brasil, Tel.: (55 11)3091-5028 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: pandaemonium@usp.br