I never dream in French, but certain French words seem better or more fun than English words - like 'pois chiches' for chick peas! Lydia Davis chicheschickdream Change image and share on social
I wrote the first draft of 'Madame Bovary' without studying the previous translations, although I gathered them and took the occasional peek. Lydia Davis bovarydraftgather Change image and share on social
Ordering is difficult. It's like arranging pieces of music in a concert: What do you put first? What do you put after the intermission? I want the reader to be sort of surprised, to come to each story freshly. Lydia Davis arrangeconcertdifficult share on social
I've gotten very alert not just to mixed metaphor but to any writing mistake. Lydia Davis alerthavemetaphor Change image and share on social
Even though I believe a superlative translation can achieve timelessness, that doesn't mean I think other translators shouldn't attempt other versions. The more the better, in the end. Lydia Davis achieveattemptend Change image and share on social
I do see an interest in writing for Twitter. Lydia Davis interesttwitterwrite Change image and share on social
I first read 'Madame Bovary' in my teens or early twenties. Lydia Davis bovaryearlymadame Change image and share on social
If a translation doesn't have obvious writing problems, it may seem quite all right at first glance. We readers, after all, quickly adapt to the style of a translator, stop noticing it, and get caught up in the story. Lydia Davis adaptcatchglance share on social
If I was writing about an academic or a more difficult person, I would use the Latinate vocabulary more, but I do think Anglo-saxon is the language of emotion. Lydia Davis academicanglodifficult Change image and share on social
I find teaching - I like it, but I find just walking into the classroom and facing the students very difficult. Lydia Davis classroomdifficultface Change image and share on social
