Literatura alemanya traduïda al català : d'afinitats electives i de cànons

This paper offers an historical overview of the contemporary translation of German literature into Catalan. It starts when foundations were established for further development during the Renaixença. It goes on to describe the first examples of translations throughout the Modernisme; thereupon it presents the ups and downs that the activity experienced during the 20th century until now, and it ends with the figure of Joan Fontcuberta. Special consideration is given to the most important circumstances under which translators, protagonists of this overview, had to work, and a periodization of this history is proposed. Translation is presented here as an essential systemic tool for the cultural and literary reconstruction in Catalonia, but also as the result of a personal encounter of some of the most significant Catalan translators in history with the work of some akin German writers.