Streblova, Inna Pavlovna – [born 24.01.1939, Leningrad, Soviet Union] - a hereditary translator of fiction literature.

I. P. Streblova’s great grandfather Pyotr Gotfridovich Ganzen and great grandmother Anna Vasilyevna Ganzen translated many works of Scandinavian authors. Her grandmother, Marianna Petrovna Ganzen-Kozhevnikova, was a translator and the first teacher of Danish in Leningrad State University. Her mother, Marianna Sergeevna Kozhevnikova, was a translator, she worked at Nürnberg process after World War II.

In 1961 I. P. Streblova graduated from Leningrad State University (The Institute for Nordic Philology, Department of Danish language and literature).

Being a student and after it she attended translation seminars of E. G. Etkind and S. V. Petrov. She started her translating activity when she was a student. In 1962 there was published her first translation of a Swedish novel. Since then she has translated many works by Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, German and English authors.

Following Family Traditions. About Inna Pavlovna Streblova

 Inna Pavlovna was born in 1939, survived in the blockade; was evacuated and accompanied her grandmother Marianna Petrovna, who served as a translator in the army at the front. From 1945 to 1949 she lived in Germany with her mother, who was a translator at the Nürnberg process. Being a student at Philological Faculty of Leningrad State University Inna Pavlovna studied Danish which was taught by her grandmother Marianna Petrovna.

After graduation she taught German at the same University. She says, she “taught the aspect of analytical reading, i. e. did what she always liked doing – read good books with her students”. Her first translation was the Swedish novel “Kathrin” by Sally Salminen.

Inna Pavlovna is a very modest person. “I got interested in translating because of two reasons. Firstly, because the memories of my great grandmother Anna Vasilyevna and my great grandfather Pyotr Gotfridovich were highly honored in the family and the work of translating was respected greatly. Secondly, because I enjoyed reading and wanted others to experience my emotions, i. e. since 12 I’ve wanted to become a translator too. I was taught translating by my grandmother Marianna Petrovna, who gave me a lot of useful advice and helped me in editing my first translation”.

A variety of genres and themes, Inna Pavlovna is working in, impresses because it ranges from scientific thesis to literary hits. She has translated both the authors whose books are known only to foreign literature experts and the authors of best sellers who are very popular with youth. Inna Pavlovna has made familiar Russian readers with modern young contemporary Norwegian writers, popular in many countries as Erlend Loe. These works are linked by lots of things, they reflect the problems of contemporary youth such as loneliness, inability to trust a close man, shyness and at the same time they move from one country to another, changing work or travelling.

The translations of children books are worthy of more detailed description.

In two volumes of “Fairy tales and stories” by Hans Christian Andresen (Leningrad, 1969) there are many fairy tales translated by A. V. Ganzen, but there are two translated by her great granddaughter Inna Pavlovna.

In the collection of  “Fairy tales by Scandinavian writers” we can see 10 fairy tales translated by Inna Pavlovna. All readers know the stories about The Pippi Longstocking and Karlsson-on-the-Poof, but they will never recognize Astrid Lindgren in the sad fairy tales in this book.

The best gift to children has been made by Inna Pavlovna by her translation of Ingvar Ambjørnssons story “Samson and Roberto” about a dog and a cat. The book is full of humor. Inna Pavlovna Streblova has been nominated for H. C. Andersens Diploma for that translation.

T. N. Okruzhnaya,

director of The Children’s Library of the Ryazan region (Ryazan)