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WILLIAM CAMDEN, PHILEMON HOLLAND AND THE 1610 TRANSLATION OF BRITANNIA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 July 2015

Oliver D Harris
Oliver D Harris*
Affiliation:
Oliver D Harris, 27 The Cloisters, 145 Commercial Street, London E1 6EB, UK. Email: oliverdharris@netscape.net
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Abstract

This paper explores the background to the publication in 1610 of the first English-language edition of William Camden’s Britannia, translated from the Latin by Philemon Holland. The translation itself is shown to be free, but largely reliable. Camden is found to have played little part in the detailed work of translation, but to have contributed most of the volume’s new content. The translation’s place within the formation of an English and a British national identity is considered.

Résumé

Cet article analyse le contexte de la publication, en 1610 de la première édition en langue en anglaise de la Britannia de William Camden, traduite du latin par Philemon Holland. Il montre que la traduction elle-même, bien que libre, est dans l’ensemble fidèle. Il conclut que Camden n’a joué qu’un rôle limité dans le détail de la traduction, mais qu’il est l’auteur de la majeure partie des éléments nouveaux du volume. Il examine le rôle joué par la traduction dans la constitution d’une identité nationale anglaise et britannique.

Zusammenfassung

Diese Abhandlung erforscht die Hintergründe zur Veröffentlichung der ersten englischsprachigen Ausgabe von William Camdens Britannia im Jahre 1610 in der Übersetzung aus dem Lateinischen von Philemon Holland. Die Übersetzung selbst ist freier Art, aber weitgehend zuverlässig. Camden war erwiesenermaßen kaum an der eingehenden Übersetzungsarbeit beteiligt, trug jedoch den Großteil zum neuen Inhalt des Bandes bei. Es wird die Stellung der Übersetzung innerhalb der Bildung einer englischen und einer britischen nationalen Identität erwogen.

Type
Papers
Information
The Antiquaries Journal , Volume 95 , September 2015 , pp. 279 - 303
Copyright
© The Society of Antiquaries of London 2015 

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