If you want to generate personal email as an author, publish a new translation of something from the late 15th century. I've been hearing about the retranslation of a 1496 letter from the Spanish crown to its diplomat in London regarding John Cabot's proposed voyage for Henry VII of England. This has long been a problematic document, and with the assistance of Dr. Janet Ritch, an expert in early Spanish and French, I brought forward in The Race to the New World a new take that proposes the phrase "lo de las Yndias" refers to Cabot, which would make him "the one from [or of] the Indies." I've been hearing from people on what THEY think the letter means. I'm beginning to think that this letter is like a Rorschach test, and that anyone can see in it whatever they like. I don't think there will ever be a definitive take on what this letter means, but the debate (which has been ongoing since the late 19th century) is interesting. I had an essay on the translation process on the book website, which I'm working on to update the debate, and I'll repost it fairly soonish.
Published on September 21, 2011 04:55