3 - Godot in French and in English

Summary

It is very rare in world literature for a landmark to exist in two languages both of which are the author's own. Because the French original and the English translation of Godot are Beckett's creations, it is inevitable that we should want to compare the two versions and to generalize about their differences. As we have already seen, En attendant Godot was written between 9 October 1948 and 29 January 1949, published on 17 October 1952, and first performed on 5 January 1953. The stir caused by the play quickly brought Beckett hundreds of inquiries and proposals about Godot and his other work, and the months after the première were intensely busy. He was negotiating with the editors of the literary magazine, Merlin, and with Maurice Girodias of Olympia Press for the publication of Watt (printed in August), conferring with Patrick Bowles and Richard Seaver about the translations of Molloy and ‘La Fin’, discussing with Jerome Lindon preparations for the publication of L'Innommable (set for July), corresponding with Barney Rosset of Grove Press for the translation and publication of the novels and the play, and with theatre people around the world about performances of Godot. Beckett began his own translation early in 1953, worked on it through the summer and autumn and sent Rosset a final version just after the new year 1954.