Translations of Isaac Babel's short stories in “International literature” literary journal

Isaac Babel is one of the first Soviet prose writers to become famous abroad. The reasons behind his international renown include not only the popularization of his work in foreign publications, but also his translated works being published in exported foreign-language Soviet magazines. A crucial role in this process was played by the multilingual literary journal “International Literature” and its English, French and German versions, created in order to spread the work of Soviet and Soviet-friendly writers abroad. Between 1933 and 1937, many of Babel’s texts, both fiction and journalism, were translated for the magazine. This article examines the ways and reasons for adapting these texts for a foreign-language audience, which consisted mainly of piling explanatory comments in headings and footnotes, and considers them in the context of Babel’s textology. The focus of the article is on three of Babel’s stories: “Oil,” “My First Fee” / “Inquiry,” and “The Road.” The significance of “International Literature” magazine’s contribution to the circulation of Babel’s work becomes especially apparent when examining the history of the publication of “My First Fee,” which during the author’s lifetime was published solely in that literary journal in English. Comparing the texts of the original publications of the short stories, their translations in the “International Literature” and their subsequent reprints in Russian and in translation allows us to trace the process of authorial and editorial thought from the first lifetime versions to the final, posthumous editions through cuts, edits and censorship changes.