The Alexandrine Plan

The Alexandrine Plan collects poet Ciaran Carson's translations of three French poets: Baudelaire, Mallarmé, and Rimbaud. Carson renders their works in strict alexandrine form - twelve-syllable lines with a medial caesura. Each poet receives a dedicated section containing translations of their most significant poems. Carson stays true to the formal constraints of alexandrine verse while transposing the works into contemporary English idiom. The collection includes Carson's notes on his translation process and engagement with the source material. His commentary provides context for both the original French poems and his decisions as a translator. The translations explore themes of modernity, urban life, and the relationship between form and meaning in poetry. Carson's work raises questions about what is preserved and what changes when poetry moves between languages and cultures.

Limited review data exists for this book of translations of French poetry. Most comments focus on Carson's unconventional modernization of Baudelaire, Rimbaud, and Mallarmé into Alexandrine verse forms. Readers appreciated: - Creative adaption into contemporary English while maintaining French meter - Political resonance between 19th century France and modern Northern Ireland - Use of Belfast vernacular and slang in the translations Common criticisms: - Can be difficult to follow without knowledge of the original French poems - Some felt the Belfast dialect detracted from the source material - A few noted the translations strayed too far from literal meaning Available Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (based on 18 ratings) No ratings available on Amazon Notable reader comment: "These are not translations in any conventional sense but bold reimaginings that create something entirely new while honoring the originals' formal constraints." - Goodreads reviewer

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🌟 Ciaran Carson translated three French poets - Baudelaire, Mallarmé, and Rimbaud - reimagining their works through the lens of his Belfast upbringing and the Northern Irish Troubles. 🎭 The sonnets in The Alexandrine Plan maintain the strict 12-syllable alexandrine line of the French originals, a remarkable technical achievement in English translation. 📚 Carson chose the title because "alexandrine" refers both to the 12-syllable poetic line and to the great library of Alexandria, suggesting both form and a vast repository of knowledge. 🖋️ As a native Irish speaker who learned English as a second language, Carson brought a unique perspective to translating French poetry, often incorporating Irish idioms and Belfast street language. 🎵 Carson was not only a poet and translator but also an accomplished traditional Irish flute player, and musical rhythms heavily influence his approach to poetic meter in these translations.