What do you think?
Rate this book
翻譯的危險：清代中國與大英帝國之間兩位譯者的非凡人生
衝突或和平，就在翻譯一念間
榮獲十八世紀研究最佳圖書獎Kenshur Prize
沃爾夫森歷史獎入圍
坎迪爾歷史獎入圍
英國大使寫給朝廷的信，為何要由一個十二歲小孩代筆？
什麼樣的譯者膽敢惹惱嘉慶皇帝？
鴉片戰爭結束議定條約時，為何沒有中方翻譯在場？
──危機四伏的世界，需要有膽識的譯者──
1792年八月底，以馬戛爾尼勛爵為首的使團成員在樸茲茅斯集合，要從那裡登船前往中國。整個航程將耗時一年之久。
這是史上第一次，英國人出使中國。那時世界上還不存在漢英字典。
使團的艦艇上，有大使的親信和祕書，航海經驗豐富的船長和海軍軍官，還有畫師、醫生、科學家、傳教士以及東印度公司的人員。
兩位背景特殊的譯者也在船上。
李自標出生於華北的天主教家庭，童年時透過教會的全球機制，被送去義大利那不勒斯學習。馬戛爾尼的副手老斯當東為了尋覓譯者，旅行到那不勒斯，而選中李自標。他雖然不會說英語，但嫻熟義大利語和拉丁語，這在當時的歐洲屬精英人士的語言。那是個基督徒在中國容易遭到迫害的時代，李自標決定擔任使團的翻譯，有他宗教信仰上的目標。
年幼的小斯當東，連登船的繩梯都爬不上去，卻已經在父親的嚴格訓練下學會講拉丁語和古希臘語，接觸植物學、天文學與數學知識，觀摩製造業實務與工業革命的新發明。這樣的教育讓他一輩子異於同階層的人。使團的譯者成了他最初的漢語老師。他的父親帶他遠赴中國，經歷長途航程的波折與奇遇，最終以小小年紀進入朝廷晉見乾隆皇帝。日後他將在重大的清英衝突中擔任翻譯，並親手完成史上第一本從漢語譯為英語的書籍。
三十多年前，有一位為東印度公司做翻譯的英國人洪任輝，因為要求擴展貿易，遭到囚禁，協助他的中國人劉亞匾被公開處決。在這樣的陰影下，鮮少人敢擔任譯者。
懂得異國語言的人，意味著比起其他人，對另一方能夠有更多的同理。因此譯者既可能遭到自己人懷疑忠誠，又要面對冒犯另一方的風險。
李自標和小斯當東承擔起這樣的危險，在翻譯中展現智慧與勇氣，微妙地引導局勢，卻也因為他們跨文化的能力，走上既不凡又疏離的人生。
榮獲十八世紀研究最佳圖書獎Kenshur Prize
沃爾夫森歷史獎入圍
坎迪爾歷史獎入圍
英國大使寫給朝廷的信，為何要由一個十二歲小孩代筆？
什麼樣的譯者膽敢惹惱嘉慶皇帝？
鴉片戰爭結束議定條約時，為何沒有中方翻譯在場？
──危機四伏的世界，需要有膽識的譯者──
1792年八月底，以馬戛爾尼勛爵為首的使團成員在樸茲茅斯集合，要從那裡登船前往中國。整個航程將耗時一年之久。
這是史上第一次，英國人出使中國。那時世界上還不存在漢英字典。
使團的艦艇上，有大使的親信和祕書，航海經驗豐富的船長和海軍軍官，還有畫師、醫生、科學家、傳教士以及東印度公司的人員。
兩位背景特殊的譯者也在船上。
李自標出生於華北的天主教家庭，童年時透過教會的全球機制，被送去義大利那不勒斯學習。馬戛爾尼的副手老斯當東為了尋覓譯者，旅行到那不勒斯，而選中李自標。他雖然不會說英語，但嫻熟義大利語和拉丁語，這在當時的歐洲屬精英人士的語言。那是個基督徒在中國容易遭到迫害的時代，李自標決定擔任使團的翻譯，有他宗教信仰上的目標。
年幼的小斯當東，連登船的繩梯都爬不上去，卻已經在父親的嚴格訓練下學會講拉丁語和古希臘語，接觸植物學、天文學與數學知識，觀摩製造業實務與工業革命的新發明。這樣的教育讓他一輩子異於同階層的人。使團的譯者成了他最初的漢語老師。他的父親帶他遠赴中國，經歷長途航程的波折與奇遇，最終以小小年紀進入朝廷晉見乾隆皇帝。日後他將在重大的清英衝突中擔任翻譯，並親手完成史上第一本從漢語譯為英語的書籍。
三十多年前，有一位為東印度公司做翻譯的英國人洪任輝，因為要求擴展貿易，遭到囚禁，協助他的中國人劉亞匾被公開處決。在這樣的陰影下，鮮少人敢擔任譯者。
懂得異國語言的人，意味著比起其他人，對另一方能夠有更多的同理。因此譯者既可能遭到自己人懷疑忠誠，又要面對冒犯另一方的風險。
李自標和小斯當東承擔起這樣的危險，在翻譯中展現智慧與勇氣，微妙地引導局勢，卻也因為他們跨文化的能力，走上既不凡又疏離的人生。
368 pages, Paperback
Published September 3, 2024
30 people are currently reading
402 people want to read
About the author
Henrietta Harrison
10 books17 followersLibrarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
From: http://www.orinst.ox.ac.uk/staff/ea/c...
"I am a historian and my main interest is in what ordinary people’s lives have been like in China from the Qing dynasty until today. I am also enthusiastic about writing the kind of history that tells stories as well as making arguments. Both of my most recent books have been micro-histories and I have made extensive use of fieldwork in China, especially conducting oral history interviews and collecting village-level materials, as well as using more conventional archives and libraries.
My research has included the 1911 revolution, nationalism, Confucianism in the twentieth-century, Catholicism, interactions between China and Europe, and above all the history of Shanxi province. I have worked across different periods, writing two books about the early twentieth century, and one that is the story of a single village from 1700 to 2012, as well as several articles about the 1950s and 60s. My main current research is on the eighteenth century, with a focus on diplomacy and the social history of oral interpreting."
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
From: http://www.orinst.ox.ac.uk/staff/ea/c...
"I am a historian and my main interest is in what ordinary people’s lives have been like in China from the Qing dynasty until today. I am also enthusiastic about writing the kind of history that tells stories as well as making arguments. Both of my most recent books have been micro-histories and I have made extensive use of fieldwork in China, especially conducting oral history interviews and collecting village-level materials, as well as using more conventional archives and libraries.
My research has included the 1911 revolution, nationalism, Confucianism in the twentieth-century, Catholicism, interactions between China and Europe, and above all the history of Shanxi province. I have worked across different periods, writing two books about the early twentieth century, and one that is the story of a single village from 1700 to 2012, as well as several articles about the 1950s and 60s. My main current research is on the eighteenth century, with a focus on diplomacy and the social history of oral interpreting."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 23, 2025
4.5/5
Przeczytane do doktoratu, ale oprócz tego naprawdę dobra książka o bardzo ważnych osobach w stosunkach międzynarodowych i historii. Tutaj akurat historii Chin oraz Imperium Brytyjskiego. Książka przedstawia rolę, którą tłumacze chińscy i brytyjscy odegrali w pierwszej misji dyplomatycznej rządu brytyjskiego do Chin okresu dynastii Qing. Po angielsku jest faktycznie niewiele szczegółowych informacji na temat chińskich tłumaczy pracujących dla Imperium Brytyjskiego, więc ta praca jest naprawdę wyjątkowa.
Przeczytane do doktoratu, ale oprócz tego naprawdę dobra książka o bardzo ważnych osobach w stosunkach międzynarodowych i historii. Tutaj akurat historii Chin oraz Imperium Brytyjskiego. Książka przedstawia rolę, którą tłumacze chińscy i brytyjscy odegrali w pierwszej misji dyplomatycznej rządu brytyjskiego do Chin okresu dynastii Qing. Po angielsku jest faktycznie niewiele szczegółowych informacji na temat chińskich tłumaczy pracujących dla Imperium Brytyjskiego, więc ta praca jest naprawdę wyjątkowa.
July 19, 2022
The title and subtitle suggest two very different books. I guess I was more interested in the title, while the book really focuses on the subtitle. I thought the book would be about, well, 'the perils of interpreting', covering the drama of translating the nuances of Chinese and English during a sensitive and unprecedented period of diplomacy between two dominant empires. However, it was more just a straight up biography of two people who happened to be interpreters. To most who would be interested in reading this book, the period is familiar and so the biographies don't add a lot of new or interesting information.
June 14, 2025
The Perils of Interpreting is a fascinating account by Harvard historian Henrietta Harrison, who explores a unique and overlooked history between the Qianlong Emperor and British Ambassador
to China Lord George Macartney during their 1793 meeting. This encounter between imperial China and Britain was a turning point in global history. Working on behalf of the British monarchy,
Macartney’s embassy was tasked with establishing and developing favorable commercial ties with imperial China and submitted a list of demands that which the Qianlong Emperor rejected.
to China Lord George Macartney during their 1793 meeting. This encounter between imperial China and Britain was a turning point in global history. Working on behalf of the British monarchy,
Macartney’s embassy was tasked with establishing and developing favorable commercial ties with imperial China and submitted a list of demands that which the Qianlong Emperor rejected.
September 22, 2024
看简介和封面以及引言，我原以为这是关于译者在朝廷做翻译时牵涉紧张刺激力拔千钧的影响两个大国关系的历史事件。
但其实很大篇幅是写一位白人译者和一位中国译者的一生，连插图大多是肖像图和住所建筑图（而不是我预想的翻译文件和奏折图片）。作者研究的文本可能主要是两位译者的日记和信件，特别是描写小斯当东的生活提供了非常多细节，实在太多太细，读得我索然无味。
这本书更适合当作小斯当东的传记。如果不是对小斯当东和李自标感兴趣，对鸦片战争比较了解的读者没有阅读这本书的必要了。
但其实很大篇幅是写一位白人译者和一位中国译者的一生，连插图大多是肖像图和住所建筑图（而不是我预想的翻译文件和奏折图片）。作者研究的文本可能主要是两位译者的日记和信件，特别是描写小斯当东的生活提供了非常多细节，实在太多太细，读得我索然无味。
这本书更适合当作小斯当东的传记。如果不是对小斯当东和李自标感兴趣，对鸦片战争比较了解的读者没有阅读这本书的必要了。
February 8, 2024
While poorly-titled (there being many much better examples of the perils faced by interpreters throughout history than these two men who lived long and comfortable lives), this was a fairly lively biographical narrative that combined a number of topics I find interesting, most saliently language and the historical context for understanding language. Harrison focuses on the somewhat anticlimactic events of early British diplomatic contact with China prior to the Opium War, taking two interpreters as her focus: a Chinese Catholic priest educated in Naples, and an English aristocrat taught the language as part of his father's eccentric curriculum. The story is presented as two biographies, extending through their lives up to and after the diplomatic mission that first brought them together.
There are a couple of interesting facets to Harrison's discussion, including the commonalities between Chinese and British society that made mutual recognition and even friendships possible, and the different imperial policies on both sides that caused friction for people caught between the two powers. One that struck me most was the contrast that Harrison sets up between the 'conciliatory' translations made by Staunton, Harrison's main character, and the literal translations made by Morrison, a key translator at the time whom Harrison set in a secondary role. Part of this contrast is the classical one between a literal translation -- finding words that are near-cognate between the languages and substituting them in order to try and convey the same statement -- and one that communicates the general idea of the statement in a comparably natural form for the other language. Literal translations are famously unnatural in the second language and often serve the recipient poorly -- Harrison explains that Morrison learnt Chinese as an adult and specifically for the purpose of translating the Bible, which he believed should not be paraphrased.
However, there is actually more to what Staunton and his tutor Li Zibiao were doing than just avoiding literal translation. In several cases, they were actively changing the meaning of the text being translated in order to make it more politically acceptable to the recipient. A good example is the translation of a communication from Emperor Qianlong, in which phrases referring to the English 'happily and respectfully submitting' were replaced with platitudes about the 'benevolence' of the English king. This is an example of translators acting as barriers to communication, refusing to communicate ideas because they know the ideas the speaker wishes to communicate are unacceptable to the intended recipient -- and indeed making choices in what they do say that have implications unacceptable to the speaker. Li Zibiao was even more faithless than this during the diplomatic negotiations, impudently adding a seventh point to the requests made by the ambassador, and then having to scramble to hide this fact when the point was addressed in the reply from the Emperor. In general these issues highlight why literal translation holds appeal, especially when a single interpreter handles both directions of communication: the translator's leeway to distort meaning is significant.
The book's narrative construction is good, and Harrison includes a wealth of biographical detail that helps enrich both the overall narrative and the image of the burgeoning British Empire as it began to reach across the world to meet with this foreign yet familiar state. The copy of this edition has some odd minor errors that suggest some editorial failures, but on the whole it is quite an easy read that deals well with sources across numerous different languages.
December 15, 2023
On the one hand, this is a fascinating book about two "regular" guys living at the end of the eighteenth and into the nineteenth century. What I mean by "regular" is that they were not rulers, or even hardly great politicians. It was really interesting to see how much source material there was to recreate the lives of these two individuals, Li Zibiao and George Thomas Staunton. And this biographical aspect of the book was quite an enjoyable read.
On the other hand, the book seems to want to say something about translation and politics/diplomacy. Here, it's not totally clear who the intended audience is. If it is aimed at a general audience, then the book needs a lot more historical-contextual information to help us understand what is going on in the world that these two men are engaging with. If it is aimed at a more scholarly audience, then I fear the book falls a little flat, as I don't think the author's thesis is supported with enough evidence. She keeps telling us that the role of interpreter/translator was dangerous, but I can only remember one really good example where she shows the threat to an interpreter. There might have been a couple more examples, but I remain a bit unconvinced. What she has to say about the nature of translation and its role in diplomacy, especially in that age, is interesting, though.
I'm glad I read this book, but I'm not sure I could recommend it to others.
Let me just add, however, that the author's work on this book and its sources was impressive to me. She appears to know both Latin and Chinese, two languages that I study regularly but cannot claim any real level of fluency in. So, bravo for that!
On the other hand, the book seems to want to say something about translation and politics/diplomacy. Here, it's not totally clear who the intended audience is. If it is aimed at a general audience, then the book needs a lot more historical-contextual information to help us understand what is going on in the world that these two men are engaging with. If it is aimed at a more scholarly audience, then I fear the book falls a little flat, as I don't think the author's thesis is supported with enough evidence. She keeps telling us that the role of interpreter/translator was dangerous, but I can only remember one really good example where she shows the threat to an interpreter. There might have been a couple more examples, but I remain a bit unconvinced. What she has to say about the nature of translation and its role in diplomacy, especially in that age, is interesting, though.
I'm glad I read this book, but I'm not sure I could recommend it to others.
Let me just add, however, that the author's work on this book and its sources was impressive to me. She appears to know both Latin and Chinese, two languages that I study regularly but cannot claim any real level of fluency in. So, bravo for that!
September 23, 2025
The book explores the lives of two interpreters, Li Zibiao and George Thomas Staunton, and how their work shaped the diplomatic relationship between Britain and China. While one of the main focus is to examine the role of translation and interpretation in political negotiations and cross-cultural understanding, the author also delivers a deeply researched and vivid portrayal of these two men—from their childhood to their final days.
As a translator and interpreter myself, I find it fascinating to explore how individuals in the 18th century were trained for the profession. The book offers valuable insights into their methods of language acquisition, their approaches to translation, and the social roles they occupied. It was especially intriguing to see how interpreters were perceived and treated during that time.
For instance, one particularly striking detail was the Qing court’s provision of a sedan chair for Li Zibiao, alongside Macartney and George Leonard, during their journey to Beijing. This gesture underscored the formal status of interpreters within the Qing bureaucracy, where languages such as Chinese, Manchu, and Mongolian were routinely translated. In contrast to that, later in the book, it was rather saddening to see how George Thomas Staunton—despite his deep knowledge of Chinese language and culture—was dismissed by his contemporaries.
In addition, the author also presents a fascinating comparison between Staunton’s and Robert Morrison’s translation styles, revealing how their differing backgrounds and social positions shaped their linguistic choices and philosophies.
Overall, I found it engaging to learn about the lives of Li Zibiao and George Thomas Staunton. The author’s deep research and vivid storytelling brought these historical figures to life. As a translator and interpreter myself, I truly appreciate how the book shed light on the significance of the profession through the lens of history.
As a translator and interpreter myself, I find it fascinating to explore how individuals in the 18th century were trained for the profession. The book offers valuable insights into their methods of language acquisition, their approaches to translation, and the social roles they occupied. It was especially intriguing to see how interpreters were perceived and treated during that time.
For instance, one particularly striking detail was the Qing court’s provision of a sedan chair for Li Zibiao, alongside Macartney and George Leonard, during their journey to Beijing. This gesture underscored the formal status of interpreters within the Qing bureaucracy, where languages such as Chinese, Manchu, and Mongolian were routinely translated. In contrast to that, later in the book, it was rather saddening to see how George Thomas Staunton—despite his deep knowledge of Chinese language and culture—was dismissed by his contemporaries.
In addition, the author also presents a fascinating comparison between Staunton’s and Robert Morrison’s translation styles, revealing how their differing backgrounds and social positions shaped their linguistic choices and philosophies.
Overall, I found it engaging to learn about the lives of Li Zibiao and George Thomas Staunton. The author’s deep research and vivid storytelling brought these historical figures to life. As a translator and interpreter myself, I truly appreciate how the book shed light on the significance of the profession through the lens of history.
January 7, 2026
Fabulously interesting topic and period; a slight caveat is to do with how much material the author can work with, biographically speaking (little) so some bits feel a bit thin but it's hardly her fault.
I do think that the interpretation concerns should have had more place in this book, what with the title and all: but I understand that it'd be a lot less appealing to the general public.
What's fascinating here is how they translated, what they translated, and what was translatable, and how all this played out in diplomatic terms. It reminded me of Y. Fukuzawa's Autobiography, written at the end of the 19th Century by this Japanese scholar and translator or English: he points out there that object names were never a problem: abstract social and political ideas were, like 'Parliement', 'Democracy' etc.
This one is super interesting, well-written, reads well.
I do think that the interpretation concerns should have had more place in this book, what with the title and all: but I understand that it'd be a lot less appealing to the general public.
What's fascinating here is how they translated, what they translated, and what was translatable, and how all this played out in diplomatic terms. It reminded me of Y. Fukuzawa's Autobiography, written at the end of the 19th Century by this Japanese scholar and translator or English: he points out there that object names were never a problem: abstract social and political ideas were, like 'Parliement', 'Democracy' etc.
This one is super interesting, well-written, reads well.
Read
November 4, 2024It's said in the intro that one of the main pillars of the book was Qing China's response to British naval threat. Aside from the chapter on the occupation of Macao, it's NOT mentioned whatsoever. Additionally, the author made the choice of turning this into something more akin to a novel than an essay, so one would think the target audience is broad. However, major historical context is only briefly mentioned, narrowing the audience down to academics. As for the characters, the main point of the book, Staunton is clearly more indepthly discussed. There was a lot of very good documentation on Li Zibiao in the earlier chapters, yet he's forgotten of in the third and fourth parts.
February 9, 2025
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
好精彩好有趣的书！在那么多有关清史的书籍当中，这本书的视角独树一帜：通过英国马戛尔尼使团访清近距离观察使团当中的两位翻译，并从这两位译者的人生经历勾勒出从乾隆末年到鸦片战争的清英关系。
有意思的是，当年的成为译者的很多人，之所以会外语，大多是因为宗教的影响，需要学会外语去神学院学习、并且以后肩负传教的任务。清方译者��自标，精通拉丁语意大利语和英语，正是因为他是天主教徒、在那不勒斯就读神学院，之后要回中国传教。
而当时的使团深知译者担任的不只是「翻译」的角色，更因为他们能听懂双方的语言、了解彼此的文化，可能会在翻译过程当中有立场的取舍，所以特地选择跟英国没有关系的、会外语的中国人来担任翻译。而清英两方译者也因为掌握双方信息而在翻译中谨慎小心地「斡旋」，可能常常为自己带来危险。(比如「蛮夷」一词，应当译为 barbarian 还是 foreigner?)
英方译者小斯当东，当年在乾隆面前大展汉语身手的小男孩，最终多年以后进入英国议会，在是否应该发起鸦片战争的表决中，投下了赞成票。这段历史正是 Imperial Twilight 里描绘过的那段！但读过这本书就会了解他为何做出这样的选择。历史就这样连起来了。
作者在书中不断展示，翻译的工作不仅仅是把一种语言转换成另一种语言。出色的译者，更懂得首先去了解彼此的文化，建立彼此能够沟通的理解与信任，这样才能向对方阐释自己。不能认同更多。
好精彩好有趣的书！在那么多有关清史的书籍当中，这本书的视角独树一帜：通过英国马戛尔尼使团访清近距离观察使团当中的两位翻译，并从这两位译者的人生经历勾勒出从乾隆末年到鸦片战争的清英关系。
有意思的是，当年的成为译者的很多人，之所以会外语，大多是因为宗教的影响，需要学会外语去神学院学习、并且以后肩负传教的任务。清方译者��自标，精通拉丁语意大利语和英语，正是因为他是天主教徒、在那不勒斯就读神学院，之后要回中国传教。
而当时的使团深知译者担任的不只是「翻译」的角色，更因为他们能听懂双方的语言、了解彼此的文化，可能会在翻译过程当中有立场的取舍，所以特地选择跟英国没有关系的、会外语的中国人来担任翻译。而清英两方译者也因为掌握双方信息而在翻译中谨慎小心地「斡旋」，可能常常为自己带来危险。(比如「蛮夷」一词，应当译为 barbarian 还是 foreigner?)
英方译者小斯当东，当年在乾隆面前大展汉语身手的小男孩，最终多年以后进入英国议会，在是否应该发起鸦片战争的表决中，投下了赞成票。这段历史正是 Imperial Twilight 里描绘过的那段！但读过这本书就会了解他为何做出这样的选择。历史就这样连起来了。
作者在书中不断展示，翻译的工作不仅仅是把一种语言转换成另一种语言。出色的译者，更懂得首先去了解彼此的文化，建立彼此能够沟通的理解与信任，这样才能向对方阐释自己。不能认同更多。
June 1, 2025
A little dry and confusingly written in places, but overall very thorough and interesting.
Read
November 29, 2025到了19世纪晚期，在人们对世界的更大的叙事中，他们的故事已经无甚意义，他们也只会出现在细心的史家的脚注中。他们的生平的确看起来不过是夏日的一片浮云所投下的影子。；当“狮子号”沿江而下前往澳门，马戛尔尼思考了英国海军攻击广州的可能性，但这也没什么特别，自他们离开英格兰后经过每一个重要港口，他都会这样做。
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews