El Agente Secreto, Vladimir

Donde el señor Vladimir, secretario de la embajada, se muestra disconforme con el trabajo de Verloc, el maltrato, la exigencia de ser más activo, y de la conexión con la embajada. Del original inglés The Secret Agent, de Joseph Conrad

Incluimos ideas principales al final y explicamos esto de: agent provocateur.

 

… El señor Vladimir, Primer Secretario, tenía la reputación de ser un hombre agradable y entretenido. Era uno de los favoritos en la sociedad. Su ingenio consistía en descubrir las conexiones entre ideas incongruentes. Cuando hablaba se sentaba al filo del asiento, con la mano izquierda levantada.

Pero no había ni rastro de alegría o de perplejidad en la forma en que miró al señor Verloc. Sentado en la profundidad del sillón, con los codos en ángulo recto, y con una pierna sobre la gruesa rodilla, tenía en su rostro suave y sonrosado el aire de un bebé que no aceptaba tonterías de nadie.

El Agente Secreto, en la Embajada

Donde conocemos de la entrevista que el señor Verloc sostiene con un funcionario de la embajada, de la insatisfacción del funcionario, y de la incomodidad. Del original inglés The Secret Agent, de Joseph Conrad.

Más abajo una definición de anarquismo y unas fotos increíbles de los seguidores del anarquismo en la Ucrania soviética.

 

“Lo que se desea por ahora es la acentuación de la inestabilidad, la fermentación que sin duda existe… ”

 

The Secret Agent, Verloc´s Journey

Donde Verloc se dirige a una cita a través de la ciudad de Londres, conocemos algo sobre su forma de vestir y pensar. Del original inglés The Secret Agent, de Joseph Conrad.

También buscamos sobre el carruaje victoria, en el que aparecen otros términados relacionados como brougham y phaetom

 

The Secret Agent, Winnie´s mother-Stevie

Donde la madre de Winnie siente satisfacción por Verloc, de la condición y preocupación por su hijo Stevie, y de cómo se acomodaron a la casa de Verloc. Del original ingles The Secret Agent, de Joseph Conrad

In Winnie’s mother’s opinion Mr Verloc was a very nice gentleman.  From her life’s experience gathered in various “business houses” the good woman had taken into her retirement an ideal of gentlemanliness as exhibited by the customers of private-saloon bars.  Mr Verloc approached that ideal; he attained it, in fact.

 “Of course, we’ll take over your furniture, mother,” Winnie had remarked.

The lodging-house was to be given up.  It seems it would not answer to carry it on.  It would have been too much trouble for Mr Verloc.  It would not have been convenient for his other business.  What his business was he did not say; but after his engagement to Winnie he took the trouble to get up before noon, and descending the basement stairs, make himself pleasant to Winnie’s mother in the breakfast-room downstairs where she had her motionless being.  He stroked the cat, poked the fire, had his lunch served to him there.  He left its slightly stuffy cosiness with evident reluctance, but, all the same, remained out till the night was far advanced.  He never offered to take Winnie to theatres, as such a nice gentleman ought to have done.  His evenings were occupied.  His work was in a way political, he told Winnie once.  She would have, he warned her, to be very nice to his political friends.

The Secret Agent, the Verlocs

Donde conocemos a Mr Verloc, su familia, y el negocio de venta de material erótico que posee en su casa. Del original inglés The Secret Agent, de Joseph Conrad.

Encontramos una definición para gas jets y apuntamos las ideas principales más abajo.

 

Mr Verloc, going out in the morning, left his shop nominally in charge of his brother-in-law.  It could be done, because there was very little business at any time, and practically none at all before the evening.  Mr Verloc cared but little about his ostensible business.  And, moreover, his wife was in charge of his brother-in-law.

The Secret Agent, introducción

¿Qué vamos a leer esta semana? The Secret Agent (El Agente Secreto), una novela de Joseph Conrad. Esta novela se publicó en 1907. Aparentemente cuando se publicó no tuvo demasiada repercusión. Ya pasado bastante tiempo, y sobre todo con los acontecimientos de Setiembre 11 en los Estados Unidos, la novela comenzó a tener consideración con el público en general.

Más abajo el resumen de la novela y unos comentarios sobre el vocabulario (relacionado a lugares de Londres, ropas de la época, y accesorios que hoy ya no existen) de Secret Agent.

 

El inspector Heat entrevista al profesor, amigo de Verloc, quien es sospechoso por sus inclinaciones anarquistas.

 

Emma, Resumen

Emma Woodhouse era linda, inteligente y rica, con un hogar confortable y una buena disposición. Parecía juntar algunas de las mejores bendiciones de la vida.

Había vivido veintiún años sin mayores problemas. Era la más joven de dos hijas con un padre generoso. De su madre recordaba poco, habiendo fallecido mucho tiempo atrás, situación que obligó a su padre a buscar una institutriz que encontró en Miss Taylor.

Miss Taylor había estado en casa de los Woodhouse por dieciséis años, muy apegada a ambas chicas, especialmente a Emma. La relación entre ellas era de amistad.

Emma, Details

 Donde  Emma rebela su intención de seguir uniendo parejas, se le recomienda que no lo haga y se brindan detalles sobre el señor Weston.  Del original ingles Emma, de Jane Austen

"A simple, open-hearted man like Weston, and a rational, unaffected woman like Miss Taylor, may be safely left to manage their own concerns. You are more likely to have done harm to yourself, than good to them, by interference."

"Emma never thinks of herself, if she can do good to others," rejoined Mr. Woodhouse, understanding but in part. "But, my dear, please do not make any more matches; they are silly things, and break up one's family circle critically."

"Only one more, papa; only for Mr. Elton. Poor Mr. Elton! You like Mr. Elton, papa,—I must look about for a wife for him. There is nobody in Highbury who deserves him—and he has been here a whole year, and has fixed up his house so comfortably, that it would be a shame to have him single any longer—and I thought when he was joining their hands to-day, he looked so very much as if he would like to have the same kind office done for him! I think very well of Mr. Elton, and this is the only way I have of doing him a service."

Emma, the Match-maker

Donde se discute sobre la tristeza de Emma por el casamiento de Miss Taylor, la conveniencia de su casamiento, la situación que Emma hiciera posible el romance, a pesar de la opinión de la gente, y la opinión de Mr. Knightly. Del original ingles Emma, de Jane Austen

"Dear Emma bears every thing so well," said her father. "But, Mr. Knightley, she is really very sorry to lose poor Miss Taylor, and I am sure she will miss her more than she thinks for."

Emma turned away her head, divided between tears and smiles. "It is impossible that Emma should not miss such a companion," said Mr. Knightley. "We should not like her so well as we do, sir, if we could suppose it; but she knows how much the marriage is to Miss Taylor's advantage; she knows how very acceptable it must be, at Miss Taylor's time of life, to be settled in a home of her own, and how important to her to be secure of a comfortable provision, and therefore cannot allow herself to feel so much pain as pleasure. Every friend of Miss Taylor must be glad to have her so happily married."

Emma, Mr Knightley

Donde Mr. Knightley llega para levantar el ánimo de Mr Woodhouse, se discute sobre la felicidad de Miss Taylor, y señala las faltas de Emma. Del original ingles Emma, de Jane Austen 

Emma spared no effort to maintain this happier flow of ideas, and hoped, by the help of backgammon, to get her father tolerably through the evening, and be attacked by no regrets but her own. The backgammon-table was placed; but a visitor immediately afterwards walked in and made it unnecessary.

Mr. Knightley, a sensible man about seven or eight-and-thirty, was not only a very old and intimate friend of the family, but particularly connected with it, as the elder brother of Isabella's husband. He lived about a mile from Highbury, was a frequent visitor, and always welcome, and at this time more welcome than usual, as coming directly from their mutual connexions in London. He had returned to a late dinner, after some days' absence, and now walked up to Hartfield to say that all were well in Brunswick Square. It was a happy circumstance, and animated Mr. Woodhouse for some time. Mr. Knightley had a cheerful manner, which always did him good; and his many inquiries after "poor Isabella" and her children were answered most satisfactorily. When this was over, Mr. Woodhouse gratefully observed, "It is very kind of you, Mr. Knightley, to come out at this late hour to call upon us. I am afraid you must have had a shocking walk."

Emma, Cheering Pa

 Donde Emma piensa sobre los cambios que atraviesa y de  cómo trata de animar a su padre. El señor Woodhouse resiente cualquier cambio, como el casarse. Del original ingles Emma, de Jane Austen

Her sister, though comparatively but little removed by matrimony, being settled in London, only sixteen miles off, was much beyond her daily reach; and many a long October and November evening must be struggled through at Hartfield, before Christmas brought the next visit from Isabella and her husband, and their little children, to fill the house, and give her pleasant society again.

Highbury, the large and populous village, almost amounting to a town, to which Hartfield, in spite of its separate lawn, and shrubberies, and name, did really belong, afforded her no equals. The Woodhouses were first in consequence there. All looked up to them. She had many acquaintance in the place, for her father was universally civil, but not one among them who could be accepted in lieu of Miss Taylor for even half a day. It was a melancholy change; and Emma could not but sigh over it, and wish for impossible things, till her father awoke, and made it necessary to be cheerful. His spirits required support.

Emma

Donde conocemos sobre Emma Woodhouse, cómo vivió, sin madre, con la colaboración de un padre afectuoso y una institutriz generosa. Ahora Miss Taylor, la institutriz, se casaba y Emma sentía la soledad. Del original ingles Emma, de Jane Austen

Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress her.

She was the youngest of the two daughters of a most affectionate, tolerant father; and had, in consequence of her sister's marriage, been mistress of his house from a very early period. Her mother had died too long ago for her to have more than an indistinct memory of her caresses; and her place had been supplied by an excellent woman as governess, who had fallen little short of a mother in affection.

Sixteen years had Miss Taylor been in Mr. Woodhouse's family, less as a governess than a friend, very fond of both daughters, but particularly of Emma. Between them it was more the intimacy of sisters. Even before Miss Taylor had ceased to hold the nominal office of governess, the mildness of her temper had hardly allowed her to impose any restraint; and the shadow of authority being now long passed away, they had been living together as friend and friend very mutually attached, and Emma doing just what she liked; highly esteeming Miss Taylor's judgment, but directed chiefly by her own.

De Escritores Salteños y Traducciones

Donde discurro sobre el supuesto poema de Juan Carlos Dávalos que mi alumno, Juan Carlos, me entregara días pasados para su traducción

“Profe, ¿podría traducirme estos versos? Me gustaría leérselos a mi yerno, que es norteamericano”, me dijo Juan Carlos

“Por supuesto que sí”, le respondí. “Aunque debe tener en cuenta que la traducción es bien difícil, especialmente cuando se trata de poesía”

Juan Carlos me había pedido que le tradujera unas rimas de un poema que me trajera en una hoja impresa, con sólo el nombre del poema y tres estrofas. Por supuesto me cubrí las espaldas señalando lo difícil de la traducción. Si no podía realizarla siempre tendría la excusa de la dificultad del idioma. Era un trabajo extra pero también el pedido de un alumno muy especial, mi entusiasta alumno particular de ingles.

The Bookman´s Tale

La siguiente es una traducción de algunos párrafos de la novela del escritor norteamericano Charlie Lovett The Bookman´s Tale, que me pareció una novela bastante interesante

Hay-on-Wye, Gales, febrero del 95

Gales podía ser muy fría en febrero. Aun sin la nieve o el viento la fría humedad del invierno se filtraba en el saco de Peter y se posaba en sus huesos, mientras se paraba fuera de una docena de librerías que coronaban las estrechas calles de Hay. A pesar del tibio fulgor en una vidriera que iluminaba una atrapante muestra de libros de la época victoriana Peter no tuvo apuro en abrir la puerta. Habían pasado nueve meses desde que entrara a una librería, algunos minutos más no harían ninguna diferencia. Hubo un tiempo en que todo esto era muy familiar, tan seguro. Cuando entrar en una librería de libros raros era excitante, encontrarse con un amante de libros era parte de una gran aventura.

Inglés con Gatsby

El Gran Gatsby no deja de enseñar aun hoy, en el siglo 21. De ella podemos aprender de historia, geografía y ampliar vocabulario. Más abajo vemos sobre la Lewis machine-gun y roadster

 

La modernidad de la novela

El Gran Gatsby es una novela moderna, a pesar de sus más de 80 años, y escandalosa a la vez.

Es moderna porque trata temas que son una constante, aun hoy: los sentimientos, la violencia de los hombres con las mujeres, los ricos y los pobres, el abuso de poder, el desamor, el casamiento por conveniencia, etc.