ИЗВЕСТИЯ СОИГСИ

The article is a response to the quite significant, in the author’s opinion, cultural and historical event, i.e. the publication by Princeton University (USA) of the English translation of the Ossetian Narts epics, made at the end of the last century by Walter May. Starting with a review of the book and description of its structure, the author then introduces a brief history of the translation of the Ossetian epics into English. Later on he shares personal impressions the interpreter produced on him, and recollects the data of personal nature, little-known to the wide range of readers. The author criticizes the way proper names are introduced as well as some comments made. The main shortcoming of the comments is insufficient account of the social structure of the epic of society, of its Indo-European origin, convincingly reconstructed in the works of G. Dumezil, G. Bailey, V.I. Abaev and others. Finally, he acknowledges the undoubted artistic and scientific merits of the book under review, the publication of which will contribute to the emergence of new academic translations of Ossetian epics, but not through the mediation of the Russian language, but directly from the language of the original source.

Keywords: Narts, epics, English translation, comments, propositions.

References:

1. Tales of the Narts. Ancient Myths and Legends of the Ossetians. Translated by Walter May. Edited by John Colarusso and Tamirlan Salbiev. Princeton and Oxford, Princeton University Press, 2016. 442 p.

2. Nart Sagas from the Caucasus: Myths and Legends from the Circassians, Abazas, Abkhaz and Ubykhs. Assembled, Translated and Annotated by John Colarusso. Princeton and Oxford, Princeton University Press, 2002. 552 p.

3. May Walter. Who were the ancient britts?: A historical, geographical, ethnographical and literary exploration. Moscow, Kudesniki Publishing house, 2001.

4. Selected Nartæ Tales (Ravzargæ narty kaddzhytæ). Compiled by Jiothi Zema. Tshinval, Hussar Alani Publishing house, 2007. 216 p.

5. Skazanija o nartah [Tales of the Narts. Translated from Ossetian by Ju. Libedinskij]. Vladikavkaz, V.A. Gassiev Republic Publishing and Printing Company, 2000.

6. Dzitstsojty Ju.A. Sarmatskie korni korolja Artura [King Arthur’s Sarmatian roots]. Juzhnaja Osetija [South Ossetia]. 2001, no 91.