25th Anniversary of the Death of Thomas Bernhard - Recent Translations and Editions

February 12, 2014, marks the 25th anniversary of Thomas Bernhard’s death. Looking at new translations and his perception around the world, the author is alive as never before. Here is a glimpse on a few international projects:

English world: Thomas Bernhard’s works are broadly published in English translation. Recent highlights include Carol Brown Janeway’s extraordinary translation of Meine Preise, published with Alfred A. Knopf, as well as a series of prose works with Seagull Books, including the posthumous collection Goethe schtirbt.

Spanish world: Spanish readers find their selves in the convenient position to be able to chose for most of Bernhard’s works between different editions from different wonderful publishers, such as Alfaguara and Alianza, as well as small independent publisher Hiru Editorial, based in Basque country, but publishing faithfully Bernhard’s dramatic oeuvre in Spanish. And there’s no stop to Bernhard being present in all formats: just recently graphic novel publisher Síns Entido published the congenial adaption of Alte Meister by Nicolas Mahler, which will be followed by further Bernhard/Mahler graphic novels in the near future.

China Mainland: Thanks to the tremendous efforts and the dedication of Professor Ma Wentao we stand on the brink of a Thomas Bernhard revival in China. Together with the Beijing-based publishing house Horizon Media, Professor Ma will present an ongoing series of translations of Bernhard’s works to the Chinese public. In August 2013 the series kicked off with the publication of the first two volumes, the translations of Alte Meister and Meine Preise. Many works, including the Graphic Novel of Alte Meister are about to follow.

France: Éditions Gallimard has just released the French editions of the short stories Goethe schtirbt in its series Du Monde Entier, as well as the selection of Bernhard’s public interventions, Der Wahrheit auf der Spur in its series “Arcades”. Both volumes have been broadly reviewed and the French press is in Bernhard-fever, not only since Gallimard’s publication of Meine Preise in 2010 and the subsequent paperback with Gallimard Folio in 2011.

Italy: In Italy Thomas Bernhard was and is a star, his publications during his lifetime as well as from the Estate are eagerly anticipated and we have the lucky situation that his oeuvre is covered completely, by some of the finest publishers. While traditionally Adelphi, Einaudi, Guanda, Ubulibri and Studio Editorial shared the author, over the last years Adelphi did not hesitate to collect Bernhard’s prose under their roof. Contemporarily Einaudi is re-launching Bernhard’s collected dramatic work, the first volume of the six volumes edition shall be out at the end of 2014.

Denmark: Starting with Gehen in 2005 and continuing with Der Untergeher and Holzfällen, Forlaget Basilisk has published major first translations of Bernhard’s prose works every three years. The next step will be Alte Meister.

Sweden: Ten years ago, Bokförlaget Tranan started its mission to bring Bernhard’s work back to the Swedish readers and has published first translations of Frost, Der Untergeher, Holzfällen, Alte Meister, Heldenplatz and Meine Preise since then. Upcoming are first translations of Korrektur and Auslöschung.

Norway: Gyldendal Norsk’s latest publications include an Omnibus edition of Wittgensteins Neffe, Holzfällen, Alte Meister and Der Untergeher, as well as a beautiful edition of the posthumous Goethe schtirbt.

Finland: Bernhard-maniac Finland has recently celebrated the launch of the first translation of the story Ja in a single edition with Lurra Éditions, as well as Alte Meister with Kustannusosakeyhtiö Teos. With Meine Preise forthcoming later this year, Teos will have published four first Finnish translations of Bernhard’s works, since Lurra started to introduce him to the Finnish reader with Beton, only in 2008. Teos is planning to have Bernhard’s complete works published in its “Baabel” series.

Poland: Whilst Czytelnik has published a first Polish translation of Korrektur in summer 2013, making up for a total of six major works in their catalogue, different smaller publishers accompany them to make Bernhard nearly completely published in Poland. For example, a major selection of Thomas Bernhard’s poetry is forthcoming with Atut later in 2014.

Czech Republic: Nakladatelstvi Prostor’s catalogue includes two dozen editions of nearly the complete Bernhard in Czech translation, including the recent edition of the Bernhard-interview Sind Sie gern böse? by Peter Hamm in one volume with Der Wahrheit auf der Spur. Furthermore, Nakladatelstvi Archa has just published the first international edition of the Graphic Novel Alte Meister by Mahler, based upon Bernhard’s novel.

Bulgaria: Whilst Izdatelstvo Atlantis has published a number of highly acclaimed translations of Bernhard’s prose, a three volume complete edition of his dramatic work has been recently presented by Riva Publishers.

Croatia: Starting with Wittgenstein’s Neffe in 2003, Meandarmedia has already published seven new and first Croatian translations in its Thomas Bernhard Collected Works edition. The next volume, Frost, is currently being prepared.

Serbia: Within three years only, LOM Publishers have already issued two first Serbian translations from the large Bernhard-Backlist, as well as the posthumous works Meine Preise and Goethe schtirbt. Forthcoming is another first translation of Auslöschung.

Turkey: Although with the publication of Wittgensteins Neffe in January 1989 by Metis the first Turkish translation became available in the author’s lifetime, it took until the beginning of the new millennium before more works of Thomas Bernhard got introduced to the Turkish readers. With the translation of Der Untergeher in 2001 Yapi Kredi began a renaissance of Thomas Bernhard in Turkey which was followed by the publication of 13 translations until today. Just in October 2013 Yapi Kredi released the Turkish translation of Goethe schtirbt.