Centre for Romanian Studies

Centre for Romanian Studies header image 1

Entries Tagged as '“Monica Lovinescu”'

Le rayonnement de la culture Roumaine en France

July 5th, 2006 · Comments Off on Le rayonnement de la culture Roumaine en France · Books, PEOPLE, Reviews, Translations

Le rayonnement de la culture Roumaine en France

(Plaidoyer pour la traduction en Français de l’Anthologie “Blouse Roumaine” par Constantin ROMAN – Juin 2006)

Blouse Roumaine – The Unsung Voices of Romanian Women (Centre for Romanian Studies, London, 2009) http://www.blouseroumaine.com/freeexcerpt_download.html
Blouse Roumaine – The Unsung Voices of Romanian Women (Centre for Romanian Studies, London, 2009) http://www.blouseroumaine.com/freeexcerpt_download.html

Inspirée de la toile homonyme de Henri Matisse, oeuvre exposée au Musée d’Art Moderne du Centre Pompidou à Paris, “La Blouse Roumaine” est une anthologie des Femmes de Roumanie, présentant des personnalités incontournables de la culture universelle. Cet ouvrage contient une majorité des femmes francophones – des femmes qui se sont exprimées a un moment ou un autre dans cette langue, ont écrit ou écrivent en Français, ont vécu en France ou bien y vivent actuellement, contribuant à la culture française comme professeurs, écrivains, peintres, sculpteurs, psychologues, philosophes, médecins, analystes politiques, poètes, actrices de cinéma ou de théâtre (sociétaires de la Comédie française), des femmes qui ont tenu des salons littéraires à Paris, les égéries qui ont inspiré les artistes Rodin, Brancusi, Renoir, Vuillard, Matisse, Fantin Latour, les compositeurs Chausson, Poulenc, Gounod, Fauré ou Saint Saens et Ysaÿe, des écrivains comme Proust, Colette, Cocteau, Morand ou Anatole France et Sacha Guitry, des cinéastes comme Jean Renoir, Marc Allegret, Christian Jacques, Jean Boyer, ou Pierre Colombier et Claude Autant-Lara, des pianistes et violonistes, des chanteuses d’opéra, des ballerines, enfin, des françaises qui ont épousé des Roumains ou la cause de la Roumanie et qui ont eu par la suite une contribution à l’histoire culturelle et politique de ce pays, des conseillères politiques, ou des Roumaines naturalisées françaises ou des Françaises d’origine Roumaine.

Le fait qu’une partie du public français ne connaisse pas ou ne saurait concevoir l’apport de la Roumanie au rayonnement de la France n’est point étonnant si l’on pense que la seule femme écrivain dont l’appartement soit minutieusement reconstitué et conservé au Musée Carnavalet de l’histoire de la ville de Paris, Anna de Noailles, poétesse Parnassienne soit présentée comme étant d’origine “Grecque”, alors qu’elle est née – Princesse de Bassaraba-Brancovan, issue d’une famille historique Roumaine. Malheureusement, ce genre de malentendu est emblématique en France.

Countess Anna de Noailles, nee Pss Bassaraba-Brancovan (by Ignacio Zuloaga)
Countess Anna de Noailles, nee Pss Bassaraba-Brancovan (by Ignacio Zuloaga)

[Read more →]

Tags:·····································································································································································

Poetry: Constantin ROMAN (XXVII) – Smaranda, In Memoriam Smaranda Braescu (1897-1948)

May 29th, 2006 · Comments Off on Poetry: Constantin ROMAN (XXVII) – Smaranda, In Memoriam Smaranda Braescu (1897-1948) · Books, PEOPLE, Poetry, Translations

SMARANDA BRAESCU s-a nascut intr-o familie de tarani moldoveni din judetul Barlad. A fost parasutista, pilot, campioana europeana la parasutism (1931) si mondiala (in 1932, cu recordul de 7.200m la Sacramento, SUA). Pentru acest record Braescu a fost investita cu Crucea de aur “Virtutea Aeronautica”. In 1932 a stabilit primul record de traversare a Marii Mediterane in 6 ore 10 minute, strabatand distanta de 1100 Km, intre Roma si Tripoli, in propriul sau avion de tip Milles Hawk. Desi in Statele Unite i s-au oferit contracte lucrative Braescu a preferat sa se intoarca in Romania refuzand sa exploateze gloria de campioana in scopuri comerciale.
In timpul raboiului a fost activa ca pilot in celebra “Escadrila Alba” pe frontul de Rasarit si apoi pe frontul de Vest in Transilvania, Ungaria si Cehoslovacia.

Smaranda Braescu – Romanian Pioneer Pilot & Parachutist
Smaranda Braescu – Romanian Pioneer Pilot & Parachutist

Protestul transmis de Braescu Natiunilor Unite si Comandamentului Aliat din Romania demascand alegerile masluite din 1946 i-au atras urmarirea de catre politia politica a regimului Petru Groza. In continuare Braescu a activat in rezistenta anti-comunista, dar in 1948 a fost internata grav bolnava de cancer intr-un spital din Cluj. Aici a decedat in urma interventiei chirurgicale si a fost ingropata sub numele conspirativ de Maria Popescu. Totusi, la putin timp Securitatea a interogat si arestat toate persoanele implicate inclusiv medicii care au ingrijit-o la spital.

Dar ura administratiei comuniste a urmarit-o pe eroina noastra pana si in locul ei de veci, “unde nu este nici durere nici suspin” asa cum ne asigura ortodoxia noastra. In anul 1970 mormantul Smarandei Braescu, ingropata sub numele conspirativ de Maria Popescu a fost vandut unei alte familii si ori si ce urma a existentei acestei femei-erou din cimitirul central sin Cluj a disparut. Prin acest act s-a consfiintit conspiratia tacerii impuse de regimul comunist.

Dupa caderea regimului totalitar memoria eroului pilot Smaranda Braescu a fost reabiltata si mai multe strazi din Romania ii poarta numele, iar prin decretul prezidential din 1996, batalionul de parasutisti 498 a primit “drapelul de lupta Smaranda Braescu”: prea putin, prea tarziu!

“SMARANDA”

Smaranda, unde esti?
Te-ai avantat in zboruri printre nori
Din ceruri coborat-ai ca un fulg
Peste Ocean, cantata indelung
Urale ti-au adus de-atatea ori.

N-ai vrut onoruri si nici bani mai multi
Cinstit-ai vrut sa stai printre Romani
Si te-ai intors atunci la noi in munti…
Cu “Escadrila Alba” ai rapus
Dusmani din Rasarit si din Apus.

In ’46 cand s-au masluit
Alegerile suflul ti-au taiat
Ca bunii tai cu jalba in protap
Mai-marilor de-atuncea te-ai jelit
Dar soarta ta fugar-ai fost sa fii.

Din talcul vietii tale ti-a fost dat
Sa nu renunti la lupta nici de cum
Cu fruntea-n sus sa mergi pe-acelasi drum
Cand boala floarea vietii ti-a curmat
Si-n groapa zaci sub nume de-mprumut.

N-au fost nici popi, nici rude, nici parinti
O candela sa-ti puna pe mormant
Nici vesnici pomeniri, pomeni sau sfinti
Nu s-au aflat s-aline trupul tau
De cine-ai fost sa sufle vre-un cuvant.

Dar pilda ta n-a fost intr-un zadar
Acum ca roata vietii s-a rotit
Si patru zeci de ani trecut-au, chiar
O strada cu-al tau nume in sfarsit
Te va slavi atata cum mai stim.

Constantin ROMAN
Londra, Mai, 2006

———————————————————

Read more about Smaranda Braescu in:

Blouse Roumaine – The Unsung Voices of Romanian Women

[Read more →]

Tags:······································································································································································

Constantin ROMAN: “Blouse Roumaine” Extras (I) – ROMANCE la LONDRA

May 6th, 2006 · Comments Off on Constantin ROMAN: “Blouse Roumaine” Extras (I) – ROMANCE la LONDRA · Books, Diaspora, PEOPLE

CONFLUENTE CULTURALE ANGLO-ROMANE (I) – ROMANCELE LA LONDRA Cand trecea pe la Londra, Hotelul Savoy din Mayfair, era uneori resedinta Martei Bibescu, care consemna in jurnalul ei: “Regele mi-a intrerupt visarea cu un mesaj de bun-venit – dar refuz sa fiu deranjata”. Personajul acesta era George al V-lea, varul reginei Maria…Ei, cu o sotie atat […]

[Read more →]

Tags:···································································································································································

Poetry in Translation (XXV): Marta Petreu, (b. 1955) – “Psalm”

December 1st, 2005 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (XXV): Marta Petreu, (b. 1955) – “Psalm” · PEOPLE, Poetry, Translations

To forget, I have no respite:
while phosphorous sleepless nights are licking my skin and eyes
with their rough tongue full of saliva
What a voluptuous and violent embrace

And what conceit:
as it is not in the power of God to wipe clean the past
(only to speed up disasters, through fulfilment)
(that is why
I would rather pray to you, instead,
the man to whom I gave myself that October birthday
please do me a small favour
and show a sign of subservience)

There is no anaesthetic, there is no sleep and therefore no forgiveness
I hold in my body the past and face up to the ashen future
There is no sleep, only that sharp transparency
(as we stand, face to face, I and the nothingness)
only this butcher’s tenderness, my blood that has fallen in love
popping up like champagne through the pores of my skin

The claw of which God will pluck me by the scruff of my neck?

O, Domine meo, it is not in your power to wipe clean not even for one night
the past
you cannot give either rest or forgetting
in me the puppies of fear grow
they multiply they strive and reach full maturity
You cannot give either rest or forgetting:
with rough phosphorous tongues they taste my skin my eyes
What a hungry pack and what a wonderful hunting feast
in the making

Rendered in English by Constantin ROMAN
(December 2005)

[Read more →]

Tags:·······································································································································································

Poetry in Translation (XXIV): Ion Caraion – “Seul au Monde” / “Singur pe lume”

November 12th, 2005 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (XXIV): Ion Caraion – “Seul au Monde” / “Singur pe lume” · Diaspora, PEOPLE, Poetry, Translations

– Où vous emmènnent-ils, Monsieur?
– Dans le jardin, mon rêve.
– Pour quoi faire, Monsieur?
– Pour me fusiller, mon rêve.
– Parce qu’ils ont des balles, Monsieur?
– Parce qu’ils ont le temps, mon rêve.
– Où vous enterreront-ils, Monsieur?
– Sous la neige, mon rêve.
– Avez-vous peur, Monsieur?
– Je trouve ça révoltant, mon rêve.
– Qui doit-on prévenir, Monsieur?
– Les feux de l’enfer, mon rêve.
– Ça va aller quand même, Monsieur?
– Il fera nuit, mon rêve.
– Qui est votre plus proche parent, Monsieur?
– Je suis seul au monde, mon rêve.
– Voulez-vous boire un verre, Monsieur?
– Qu’est-ce que ça va me coûter, mon rêve?
– Peu importe le prix, Monsieur.
– Le calice est-il empoisonné, mon rêve?
– Vous n’en voulez pas, Monsieur?
– Casse-le en mille morceaux, mon rêve!
– Doit-on vous pleurer, Monsieur?
– Inutile, mon rêve.
– Bonne nuit, Monsieur.
– Dormons ensemble, mon rêve!
– Je dors seul, Monsieur.

* * * * * * * * * *

Alone in the World

by Ion Caraion. Translated by Constantin Roman.

[Read more →]

Tags:············································································································································································

Letter to Sanda STOLOJAN – A Funeral Oration by Manuel de Diéguez

August 24th, 2005 · Comments Off on Letter to Sanda STOLOJAN – A Funeral Oration by Manuel de Diéguez · Diaspora, PEOPLE, Poetry

Draga Sanda, Nu visam sa iti scriu in rai. Tu ai intrat acolo fara zgomot. In noaptea desmierdata, poetii confera mortii vocea melancoliei lor. Versurile tale s-au aprins sub cenuse: acum scanteiaza in amintirea noastra. Toate grozaviile pamantului nu vor stinge facliile pe care le-ai aprins. Mormantul tau canta maretia gandirii tale, cutezanta sfidarii, cu […]

[Read more →]

Tags:·····································································································································································

Poetry in Translation (XXII): Sanda STOLOJAN (1919-2005) – “Three Trees”

August 22nd, 2005 · Comments Off on Poetry in Translation (XXII): Sanda STOLOJAN (1919-2005) – “Three Trees” · Diaspora, PEOPLE, Poetry, Translations

I
“The forest tree
Shakes its harvest
Silently in itself
Then into the outer world.

You too
Welcome winter
and you shall find under the deep snow
The path
the shroud
forever green.

II
The lonely tree
awaits the moment
which comes
and goes
Up there in the mist
Just a single apple
A possible sun.

III
Dying
to the highest
the coldest top
the tree which is thought
burns
seeking for the word
heaven.

(From the collection of poems entitled:
Sur les abîmes verts,
translated into English, from the original French
by Sanda Stolojan, 12 May 2003)

[Read more →]

Tags:···································································································································································

Sanda Stolojan (1919-2005) – In Memoriam

August 20th, 2005 · Comments Off on Sanda Stolojan (1919-2005) – In Memoriam · Uncategorized

Sanda Stolojan, essayst, poet, memorialist, journalist, Interpreter to all French Presidents since de Gaulle and political activist for democracy and human rights in Romania, has died in Paris, at the age of 86. ———————————————————————————– Extract from the forthcoming Anthology of Romanian Women entitled “Blouse Roumaine” http://www.blouseroumaine.com/freeexcerpt_p23.html ——————————————————————————- Sanda Stolojan belongs to a family of Romanian […]

[Read more →]

Tags:······································································································································································

Dela Oxford la Bucuresti (Universul Familiei Regale Romane)

April 9th, 2004 · Comments Off on Dela Oxford la Bucuresti (Universul Familiei Regale Romane) · Art Exhibitions, PEOPLE

Dela Oxford la Bucuresti Universul Familiei Regale Romane – Portrete din arhivele Britanice Expozitie organizata la Muzeul de Istorie al Municipiului Bucuresti de catre Dl. Russell Harris, M.Litt, (Oxon) Aprilie 2004 Expozitia de fotografii cu portretele familiei regale a Romaniei precum si ale capetelor incoronate cu care regii Romaniei sunt inruditi, se va deschide in […]

[Read more →]

Tags:··················································································································································································

Vocea Romaniei in Marea Britanie: Revista “Transcript”, Universitatea din Aberystwyth,Tara Galilor

December 4th, 2003 · Comments Off on Vocea Romaniei in Marea Britanie: Revista “Transcript”, Universitatea din Aberystwyth,Tara Galilor · Diaspora, PEOPLE, Poetry, Translations

Poeti Romani prezentati de catre Dl Constantin Roman in revista literara bilunara “Transcript”, a Universitatii Aberystwyth, din Wales (Tara Galilor). http://www.transcript-review.org/section.cfm?id=119&lan=en Limba Galeza (Welsh) isi accepta statutul si implicit complexul de a fi o limba de mica circulatie, ca si limba Romana, desi Galezii, ca si Romanii s-au stramutat in cele patru colturi ale lumii […]

[Read more →]

Tags:······································································································································································