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Mary Hobson - Age doesn’t matter | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Polyglots |  | |
| Kronos Diglot Senior Member Germany Joined 5049 days ago 186 posts - 452 votes  Speaks: German*, English | Message 1 of 6 02 June 2012 at 8:09pm | IP Logged |
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Found this lady mentioned on a thread at lingq, and did some additional research.
Mary Hobson, a British housewife who spent almost three decades of her life caring for her physically disabled husband and her children. Dire financial situation, had to live on welfare. At 40 starts writing novels during short breaks throughout the day. With no previous experience in language learning except French in school, at the age of 56 spontaneously decides to learn Russian after having read Tolstoy in translation. Receives some basic instruction from an older lady of Russian descent and otherwise learns by doing, translating War and Peace line by line with the help of a dictionary, grammars etc. At 62 gets more serious about it and enrols in college, studying Russian. Eventually graduates, and completes a PhD at age 74. Travels to Russia many times, staying in youth hostels. Becomes an esteemed translator of literature, winning several prizes for her work which includes a translation of Pushkin's classic verse novel Eugene Onegin into English. Is now in her mid-eighties, still full of life, meanwhile having learned Ancient Greek too. Here is a short audio interview, from a 2004 BBC podcast. Some further links: Recent pictures One more Sunday Times article A glimpse into her translation work Edited by Kronos on 02 June 2012 at 8:10pm 24 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Teango Triglot Winner TAC 2010 & 2012 Senior Member United States teango.wordpress.comRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5344 days ago 2210 posts - 3734 votes Speaks: English*, German, Russian Studies: Hawaiian, French, Toki Pona | Message 2 of 6 02 June 2012 at 8:52pm | IP Logged |
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What an inspirational story! Thanks for posting these links, Kronos. Edited by Teango on 02 June 2012 at 8:52pm 2 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Kronos Diglot Senior Member Germany Joined 5049 days ago 186 posts - 452 votes Speaks: German*, English | Message 3 of 6 02 June 2012 at 9:27pm | IP Logged |
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There is a 2010 photo of her receiving another prize (see fifth picture from bottom), appropriately named "Enthusiast Translation Prize", but I never heard of it (perhaps some small private award) so didn't include it.
Alive and kicking at about 85! Here is the recent BBC broadcast mentioned at lingq. She enters at about 18 minutes into the conversation and remains till the end. I'd love to learn Russian, too... Still fifteen years ahead of her in terms of starting age, which gives me hope. Edited by Kronos on 02 June 2012 at 9:31pm 6 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Kronos Diglot Senior Member Germany Joined 5049 days ago 186 posts - 452 votes Speaks: German*, English | Message 4 of 6 02 June 2012 at 10:24pm | IP Logged |
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And finally... here's the proof that her distinguished translation work is not just an Internet rumour. Apparently her version of Eugene Onegin has been published as a book in Russia only, therefore hard to find, but a company as well-known as Naxos Records have indeed produced an audio book version of it, for which she also wrote the notes btw.
Mind-blowing achievement, in any case. 2 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Kronos Diglot Senior Member Germany Joined 5049 days ago 186 posts - 452 votes Speaks: German*, English | Message 5 of 6 26 June 2012 at 7:58pm | IP Logged |
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Actually there is quite a bit more if you google for "Мэри Хобсон", including this video where she is talking in Russian (and English).
3 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Kronos Diglot Senior Member Germany Joined 5049 days ago 186 posts - 452 votes Speaks: German*, English | Message 6 of 6 10 February 2013 at 7:00am | IP Logged |
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Two new videos on youtube.
Встреча с Мэри Хобсон (85 min.) Photo show (4 min.) 5 persons have voted this message useful |
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