Translating boundaries in Russia Abroad

Abstract This article responds to recent calls for research on literary translations in émigré periodicals as a means of exploring the cultural boundary work between the diaspora and its host cultures. Focusing on the community of Russia Abroad (1919–1939), for whom the printed word was vital in sustaining and disseminating cultural life, this study examines the role of translations in shaping diasporic identity. Using Illiustrirovannaia Rossiia [Illustrated Russia] (Paris; 1924–1939) a prominent Russian émigré newsmagazine as a case study, this article combines a descriptive analysis of literary translations with a qualitative examination of the accompanying editorial paratexts. The findings reveal that translated literature not only contributed to the formation of a distinct émigré cultural identity but also served as a crucial tool in defining boundaries between the Russian diaspora and the surrounding host cultures.