Las traductoras dieciochescas ante la censura

Abstract

The fact that a considerable number of works translated by female writers in 18th-century Spain were allowed to be published leads one to expect that there were a substantial quantity submitted for censorship. Some of the cases are already known and have been analysed; others are brought to light in the present study which aims to set out an overall view of the treatment to which the government censorship apparatus subjected translations by female authors, drawing attention to two specific features. One is an assessment of the quality of the resulting work, based on a theoretical approach in accordance with 18th-century criteria for translation. The other is establishing whether the judgements of censors were affected by the fact that the translators were female, and their reports consequently contain relevant features. The results of this analysis demonstrate the virtually unanimous acknowledgement of the high quality of the translations, describedin documents which provided an ideal opportunity to praise and encourage female talent.