The nexus between spatial changes to paratexts and the reception of literary translation: a case study of Xi You Ji

In the realm of Translation Studies, paratext has been widely acknowledged as a mediator between texts and readers. However, very little attention has been paid to the area of the analysis of the paratextual evolution of the same translation and its impact on the reception of the work. Given the paucity of research in this area, this study employs Genette’s paratextual theory and aims to identify the spatial changes to paratexts in Xi You Ji ’s English translations, and to discuss their effect on the reception of the works. For this purpose, the readers’ reviews posted on Amazon on Arthur Waley’s and Julia Lovell’s works were gathered and examined. The findings of this study reveal that the transformation of book covers can affect the purchase decision of prospective readers to a large extent. The shift from epitext to peritext acts as an endorsement of the work and helps narrow the distance between readers and a foreign literary classic. The addition of an allographic introduction originated from academic research has a similar effect. The analysis further unveils that adding an allographic introduction raises the chances of giving the plot away in advance. This study provides a new research paradigm for reception studies. By highlighting the nuanced role of paratexts, it contributes to a broader discussion on the reception of literary translation and the overseas spread of influential classics.