Boy – tłumacz samosterowny
Boy - self-steering translator

Summary/Abstract: Tadeusz Boy-Żeleński (1874-1941) the most eminent Polish translator of the French literature, is an exceptional example of linking all the key functions in the formation and dissemination of literary translation. During thirty two years of his intensive translator’s activity, he managed to preserve his own independence in choosing the literary works to be translated. Thinking of a Polish reader, he consciously created a specific range of the French literature from the Song of Roland written in the eleventh century to Proust’s masterpiece. He always prefaced his translations and added extensive commentaries. He published his works as „Boy’s Library” either in the cooperation with other publishers, or without it, investing his own funds, personally taking care of the publicity, seeking new subscribers. In order to make his translations more popular, he made use of his controversial journalistic activity as well as his notorious reputation as a satirist. For that purpose he also used to meet with the public all over the country. However, his impressive and versatile activity had some inevitable drawbacks. The style of his translations was subordinated to his personal, sometimes specific, interpretation of translated works. The lack of an independent editor caused a variety of factual and linguistic errors as well as conscious or involuntary omissions in many texts. Nevertheless, one should admit that considering the magnitude and extraordinary pace of Boy’s work such errors are quite rare.

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