Goblin Market / Marché des Gobelins

I had no idea that this poem was what inspired Lewis Carroll to write Alice in Wonderland. Lovely thought, indeed.🥰 I will it one day, I will get there.🤭

And oh, what a treat it was to discover this poem.

I scared myself a little when opening the book, looking at an even number page, I only saw French. And my French is rusty to put it mildly.
I thought, " I have not accidentally told these lovely people I read French, did I?"

Worry not, on the odd number pages, the poem is, indeed, perfectly translated into English. It is perfect for those who want to learn French or just to brush up at the same time as reading this lovely bit of poetry.
In hindsight, I probably should have connected the dots looking at the cover.😂

I took my good time, I actually read it loud inside, as if there was a child here I was reading this to.
Sometimes, I twisted my tongue, unlike the goblins. Out loud, I laughed. I assure you, the goblins would, too!

This was a wonderful experience, from the beautiful cover, the poem itself, to the lovely illustrations by Eva Vasileva.
What can I say? I loved this read on a quiet Saturday.

I actually thought these illustrations were the original ones. Aren't they amazing?

The French translation of Christina Rossetti's "Goblin Market," crafted by Alix Daniel, is a noteworthy achievement that deserves attention from both French and English-speaking readers. This version successfully captures the essence of the Victorian narrative poem while making it accessible to a new audience.
The translation's standout feature is its unique presentation: the original English text is juxtaposed with the French version, allowing for immediate comparison between the two languages. This approach is particularly valuable for literature students and poetry enthusiasts, offering a rare opportunity to explore the nuances of poetic translation.
While the translation inevitably loses some formal aspects of the original poem, notably its rhymes and alliterations, it admirably compensates with carefully crafted French prose that captures Rossetti's rich imagery and symbolism. The sensual descriptions of the goblin fruits and the dramatic tension between sisters Laura and Lizzie are rendered with a precision that preserves the enchanting atmosphere of the original text.
Alix Daniel has succeeded in maintaining the poem's central themes - temptation, sacrifice, redemption - while making them accessible to a French-speaking audience. The translation allows French readers to appreciate the multiple levels of interpretation of the poem, whether feminist, religious, or psychosexual readings.
The translator's afterword adds further value, providing historical and literary context that enriches the understanding of the poem. It notably highlights Rossetti's involvement with St. Mary Magdalene's House, an aspect of the author's life that resonates with the poem's themes.
In conclusion, this French translation of "Goblin Market" is an excellent example of how a classic work can be made accessible to a new audience without losing its depth and complexity. It offers French-speaking readers a fascinating window into Victorian literature, while preserving the magic and mystery that have made this poem renowned.
The side-by-side presentation of the original and translated texts makes this edition particularly valuable for students of poetry and translation. It allows readers to experience the nuances, exquisite vocabulary, and emotions that the original poem is meant to evoke, while simultaneously appreciating the artistry involved in rendering these elements in another language.

A delightful bilingual English/French edition of Christina Rossetti’s classic poem, Goblin Market, skillfully translated by Alix Daniel, who also contributes an insightful postscript on the poem and Rossetti's life. The enchanting illustrations by Eva Vasileva add an extra layer of magic to this timeless tale. Whether you are discovering Rossetti for the first time or revisiting a classic, this edition is a must-have for poetry lovers.

Once again, reading one of Christina Rossetti's poems was one of the best sensations in the whole world. The way she writes is most hypnotic and feels as if you are listening to rivers flowing along the banks. The illustrations are beautiful and convey an
otherworldly, archaic, and exotic tone that resonates thoroughly with the wonderful goblin tale. The book starts off with two beautiful maidens listening to the goblins coax them into
buying their poisoned fruits. While the women resist hard, the goblins persist harder. Laura succumbs to the excruciating temptation and longs for more fruit as her health drastically
deteriorates. Lizzie, who is portrayed as sensible as well as heroic, refuses to eat the fruits, tries to save her sister, and visits the goblins to buy their fruit. There, the goblins attack her
and smear the fruit juice all over her face, but Lizzie returns with the fruit juice and encourages Laura to lick the juice off her face. In the end, Laura is healed. I'd like to mention that the primary topics addressed are sisterhood, desire, temptation, and redemption. The language used is entirely evocative and captivating, as the words fuse together to make an exhilarating tale. This book is especially advantageous if you are bilingual, as it has been marvelously translated by Alix Daniel. I would say this is one of Christina's best poems, as I have read many of her other masterpieces, including 'Cousin Kate' and 'Remember', all of which were enjoyable to read. At the end of the book, there is
an excellent postscript that tells us much about the famous Rossetti, and I learned a lot about her. Knowing that the writer was not interested in poetry for pleasure but to impart
help and concern was quite fascinating. To sum up, I am in awe of this incredible work. Hats off to the author and translator, and I would overall vehemently recommend this book.

What a beautiful read of the classic ‘Goblin Market’ by Christina Rossetti. As enchanting as the poetry, the illustrations amplified it hugely. You could feel the strength of sister through the writing and the illustrations emphasised it very well. Really well translated by Alix Daniels and I really enjoyed her postscript as it went into more detail into the story and the context behind the creation of Goblin Market. For those who know both French and English are in for a treat with both languages side by side.