5 Best Andre Lefevere Quotes

“Translation is, of course, a rewriting of an original text.”

This statement encapsulates Lefevere's core argument that translation is an active, transformative process rather than a passive transfer.

“Rewriting manipulates the reader into reading a text in a certain way.”

Lefevere highlights the power of rewriting to guide and control audience reception, shaping their interpretation of the original work.

“Literary fame is not something inherent in the text, but something that is constructed.”

This quote summarizes a central thesis of the book, emphasizing that an author's reputation is built through cultural mediation and rewriting, not solely by intrinsic merit.

“Ideology and poetics are the two main factors that determine the strategies of rewriting.”

Lefevere identifies the primary constraints that influence how texts are rewritten, underscoring the cultural and aesthetic forces at play.

“The image of a literature, or of an author, or of a specific work is projected onto a certain public through rewritings.”

This explains how the perception and public image of literary entities are actively shaped and disseminated via various forms of rewriting.