O queer de Bom Crioulo (1895) nas traduções francesas: subvertendo o título de Adolfo Caminha

Abstract

The purpose of this text is to outline discussions around the French translations of Adolfo Caminha’s Brazilian novel Bom Crioulo (1895): Rue de la Miséricorde (1996; 2007) by Maryvonne Lapouge-Pettorelli, and Un amour d'ébène (2010) by Alexis Pereira de Gamboa. While acknowledged as a pioneering work for its portrayal of a black and homosexual protagonist from a naturalistic perspective, the relevance of the novel expands in the latter half of the 20th century as it assimilates into the international literary landscape. Our primary objective is to scrutinize the extent to which the title choices in these translations offer subversive interpretations, grounded in a queer paradigm, in comparison to the original title proposed by the author. In pursuit of this goal, we delve into the discourses surrounding these translations, emanating from publishers, translators, and other literary agents. This exploration extends beyond linguistic and literary dimensions to encompass political and sociocultural aspects. Ultimately, our contribution aims to enrich the discourse between translation and queer studies, engaging in a critical discussion of the translation's role in the novel's evolution, particularly in addressing gender and sexuality issues. This analysis takes into consideration the unique contextual nuances of the Latin American milieu.