Sergio Solmi and his English ‘personal canon in miniature’

In this presentation, I will delve into Sergio Solmi's poetic translations from English, focusing on three texts by Stephen Spender in Einaudi's two Quaderni di traduzione. My analysis will be grounded in Kaisa Koskinen's "Translation and Affect" (2020) and Jacob Blakesley's "Modern Italian Poets Translators of the Impossible" (2014). These works will serve as a theoretical framework to explore how affect plays a crucial role in Solmi's translation process, shaping his unique poetic voice and choices. Koskinen's research highlights the emotional and affective dimensions of translation, which are pivotal in understanding the translator's engagement with the source text. By applying her insights, I aim to uncover the affective underpinnings in Solmi's translations, examining how his emotional response to the original works influences his interpretive and creative decisions. Blakesley's concept of a "personal miniature canon" is particularly relevant to Solmi's translation activity. According to Blakesley, Solmi’s work in these Quaderni constitutes a curated collection that reflects his personal literary taste and intellectual pursuits. Solmi himself articulated a profound, compensatory function of translation, describing it as an envious lament for the irretrievable lyrical moment left to a more fortunate peer of another language. This sentiment, expressed in the Chiarimento of the first Quaderno, underscores the emotional drive behind his translations. By juxtaposing Solmi's reflections with Koskinen's and Blakesley's theories, I will demonstrate how affect not only informs but also enriches the translator's craft. Solmi's translations are not merely linguistic transpositions but emotional and intellectual engagements that bridge cultural and linguistic divides. This presentation will shed light on how Solmi's affective impulses and literary sensibilities converge to create a distinct and personal poetic canon, revealing the intricate dynamics of translation as an act of both loss and creative restitution.