Terence Kilmartin
Encyclopedia
Terence Kilmartin CBE
(10 January 1922 - 17 August 1991) was an Irish translator who served as the literary editor of The Observer
between 1952 and 1986. The most well-known and popular of his translations is his 1981 revision of C. K. Scott-Moncrieff
's rendering of Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust
.
. Moving to England
as a child, he was educated at Xaverian College
in Mayfield
, East Sussex
. His limited knowledge of French
developed when, at the age of 17, he was recruited to teach English to a French family's children.
During the Second World War, Kilmartin served in the Special Operations Executive
(SOE), as he was medically unfit for the armed forces. He earned medals for his service, as a result of his 1944 parachute jump into France.
in 1949. Initially, he worked in the foreign affairs office of the newspaper, becoming assistant literary editor in 1950 and literary editor in 1952. During this time, Kilmartin also began translation work of French literature, starting with the major works of Henri de Montherlant. Over the following decades, Kilmartin translated many French works, most notably Proust's Remembrance of Things Past.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(10 January 1922 - 17 August 1991) was an Irish translator who served as the literary editor of The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
between 1952 and 1986. The most well-known and popular of his translations is his 1981 revision of C. K. Scott-Moncrieff
C. K. Scott-Moncrieff
Charles Kenneth Scott Moncrieff MC was a Scottish writer, most famous for his English translation of most of Proust's À la recherche du temps perdu, which he published under the Shakespearean title Remembrance of Things Past.-Early life:Scott Moncrieff was born in Stirlingshire, the youngest of...
's rendering of Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust
Marcel Proust
Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust was a French novelist, critic, and essayist best known for his monumental À la recherche du temps perdu...
.
Early life
Kilmartin was born on 10 January 1922 in the Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Moving to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
as a child, he was educated at Xaverian College
Xaverian College
Xaverian Roman Catholic Sixth form College is a College in the city of Manchester.-Admissions:It lies in the inner city suburb of Rusholme close to Wilmslow Road and Oxford Road...
in Mayfield
Mayfield
-Places:Australia* Mayfield, New South Wales* Mayfield, TasmaniaCanada* Mayfield, Edmonton, a neighborhood in Alberta* Mayfield No. 406, Saskatchewan, a rural municipality of SaskatchewanIreland'* Mayfield, Cork, IrelandNew Zealand...
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
. His limited knowledge of French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
developed when, at the age of 17, he was recruited to teach English to a French family's children.
During the Second World War, Kilmartin served in the Special Operations Executive
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
(SOE), as he was medically unfit for the armed forces. He earned medals for his service, as a result of his 1944 parachute jump into France.
Writing career
His first post after the war was as a radio journalist, before he joined the staff of The ObserverThe Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
in 1949. Initially, he worked in the foreign affairs office of the newspaper, becoming assistant literary editor in 1950 and literary editor in 1952. During this time, Kilmartin also began translation work of French literature, starting with the major works of Henri de Montherlant. Over the following decades, Kilmartin translated many French works, most notably Proust's Remembrance of Things Past.