’Dear Selma’ - ‘Dear Velma’ : Selma Lagerlöf’s Translation Instructions to Velma Swanston Howard

Abstract

Despite Selma Lagerlöf's position as one of Sweden's few internationally acclaimed authors, the translation and publication of Selma Lagerlöf's work into English has for long remained a relatively unexplored field of research. In this paper I seek to redress this situation somewhat by examining the correspondence between Selma Lagerlöf and her American translator Velma Swanston Howard (1868-1937). The aim of this paper is to highlight Lagerlöf's critical feedback and advisory translation instructions to Howard.