Showcasing Australian literature in China

This paper explores how literary translations from Australia make the passage to mainland China. It looks at institutions and individuals as well as the interpersonal relationships that contribute to this collaborative process. In exploring mainland China as the target market for translations of Australian literature, this paper maintains that the translations themselves support a so-called Australian ‘national archive’ or canon, directly addressing perceptions of nation (in this case, Australia and Australianness) held by overseas audiences. Furthermore, it examines the extent to which the presence of certain economic-support mechanisms for the translation of Australian literature, in the form of government funded literary events or translations, fostering of translator-writer relations, as well as the support provided to Australian Studies centres in mainland China, impact on the creation of social, economic and cultural capital (Bourdieu 1977) and ultimately affecting the dissemination of Australian literary texts in China.