Albert Zippers (1855–1936) Beitrag zum deutsch-polnischen Literaturaustausch im Lichte seiner Korrespondenz mit Władysław Bełza (1847–1913). Eine translationsbiografi sche Perspektive

Abstract

Albert Zippers’ (1855–1936) Contribution to the German-Polish Literary Exchange in the Light of his Correspondence with Władysław Bełza (1847–1913). A Translational Biographical Perspective In line with relevant research in “Translator Studies”, this paper introduces the concept of translational biography, which allows for a comprehensive representation of translators’ life paths, including their professional development in the fi eld of translation. The model of translational biographies presented is based on the work of Makarska (2016) and consists of four components, which are illustrated with the example of Albert Zipper (1855–1936), a Germanist. The primary focus, however, is on the fourth component – the network of Zipper’s connections with other writers. Central to this is Zipper’s relationship with the renowned Polish literary fi gure, Władysław Bełza, initiated through a correspondence that signifi cantly infl uenced the work of both intellectuals. Unpublished letters of both authors, preserved in the Ossolineum Library in Wroclaw and the Jagiellonian Library in Cracow, serve as the source material for this analysis. Through a thorough examination of these unique sources, the article aims to shed new light on the cultural and intellectual context in which Albert Zipper’s translation work, as well as his other professional activities, developed.