Translating China as Cross-Identity Performance - of a Cultural

In this review of Translating China as Cross-Identity Performance, the reviewer finds a tightly argued scholarly book best suited to readers interested in the cultural history of translation and identity. James St. Andre applies a cross-identity performance lens to translation practice, and the single biggest reason to read it is its sustained argument that techniques like passing, drag, mimicry, and masquerade illuminate how Chinese texts were rendered into English and French from the eighteenth through the twentieth centuries. This review highlights the book's method, historical scope, and its rewards for interdisciplinary readers.

Key Features

• Cross-identity approach: Frames translation through performance techniques such as blackface, passing, and drag to recontextualize familiar source texts within their social histories.
• Historical range: Surveys translations from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries, offering a long view of shifting practices and attitudes toward Chinese texts.
• Interdisciplinary grounding: Draws on cultural studies, queer studies, and anthropology to connect translation choices to broader social meanings.
• Close readings: Reads translated texts alongside contemporaneous materials that shaped the image of John Chinaman, giving readers concrete textual evidence for theoretical claims.
• Case study focus: Devotes attention to figures such as George Psalmanazar whose cross-identity performance complicates early English-language representations of Formosa.

Who It's For

This book is well suited for scholars, graduate students, and informed general readers interested in translation studies, Asian cultural history, and identity performance. Readers who appreciate close historical contextualization and interdisciplinary theory will find useful perspectives on how social practices shaped translation choices.

Those seeking a practical how-to guide for contemporary translation work or a simple overview of Chinese literature without theoretical framing should look elsewhere; the book is argumentative and most valuable when read with attention to its methodological stance.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Compelling theoretical framework that links translation practice to performance traditions, making familiar material feel newly relevant.
• Broad historical sweep that shows continuity and change from the eighteenth to the twentieth century.
• Interdisciplinary citations and case studies provide concrete support for the central argument.
• Focus on figures like George Psalmanazar gives readers memorable, well-documented examples.

Cons

• The book's academic tone and theoretical density may be challenging for casual readers seeking a light introduction.

Specifications

Title	Translating China as Cross-Identity Performance
Author	James St. Andre
Subject focus	Translation history, cross-identity performance, cultural studies
Language coverage	Translations into English and French
Historical scope	Eighteenth to twentieth centuries
Approaches used	Queer studies, anthropology, cultural criticism

Our Verdict

Translating China as Cross-Identity Performance is a rewarding, intellectually rigorous study that repays careful reading; its value lies in reframing translation as a set of socially performed acts and in tracing how those acts shaped Western representations of Chinese subjects. Scholars and advanced students will find the book a worthwhile investment for its fresh interpretive lens and rich historical examples.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the book focus on any particular translators?
The book discusses a range of translators and historical figures, with specific attention to emblematic cases such as George Psalmanazar to illustrate cross-identity performance in practice.

What time periods does it cover?
It spans translations and related materials from the eighteenth through the twentieth centuries, showing long-term developments in translation practice.

Is it suitable for nonacademic readers?
While accessible in places, the book is primarily aimed at readers comfortable with academic theory and interdisciplinary analysis rather than casual readers seeking a general overview.