In my last post, I was wondering how my third Porfiry novel A Razor Wrapped in Silk came to be translated into the French as Les Enfants Perdus de l’Empire (The Lost Children of the Empire). I’m indebted to my good friend Nick Primmer for sending me the explanation. His solution is similar to those brainteasers whereby one word is gradually morphed into another over a number of steps:
A Razor Wrapped In Silk – a detective novel set in St. Petersburg
The Lost Razor Wrapped In Silk – a mystery novel set in a barber shop franchise within a haberdashery.
The Lost Razor Empire Wrapped In Silk – the story of one man’s rise to fame and fortune through finding, refurbishing and repackaging lost razors in silk for resale to luxury lovers with luxuriant locks
The Lost Razor Empire In Silk – a special edition of the above novel, in a special binding
The Lost Razor Children In Silk – a children’s story that’s a cross between the Famous Five and The Borrowers. A group of children who swear allegiance to one another through a bizarre bloodletting ritual involving the razor lost by the father of one group member. In the village of Silk, Derbyshire.
The Lost Children In Silk – a follow-up to the previous children’s story. A number of children get lost in the eponymous village in Derbyshire, but are rescued by a group of other children who have sworn allegiance to one another, though Hubert from the first story can no longer come out to join in their adventures since his father discovered his lost razor in Hubert’s sock drawer.
The Lost Children Of The Silk – this time it’s the children of a famous London barrister who become lost, due to their London A-Z proving useless amongst the winding cobbled streets and alleyways of the little village in the Peak District
The Lost Children Of The Empire – a detective novel set in St. Petersburg
Regular readers of this blog will remember Nick as the author of this touching episode. Come to think of it, I have a feeling that last statement is truer than first seems. As Nick may well be the only regular reader of this blog.
The alternative answer is that the French would never wrap a razor in silk, so therefore they have to change the name. Obviously.
But you should be thankful it wasn’t called lock stock and two smokin barrels, which was translated as something about “botanicals” as far as I remember.
haha While I haven’t been able to finish the book yet, I can definitely see the French title. Actually, it’s rather good, if a divergence from your own.