As the 'thresholds' through which readers and viewers access texts, paratexts have already sparked important scholarship in literary theory, digital studies and media studies. Translation and Paratexts explores the relevance of paratexts for translation studies and provides a framework for further research.

Writing in three parts, Kathryn Batchelor first offers a critical overview of recent scholarship, and in the second part introduces three original case studies to demonstrate the importance of paratextual theory. Batchelor interrogates English versions of Nietzsche, Chinese editions of Western translation theory, and examples of subtitled drama in the UK, beforeconcluding with a final part outlining a theory of paratextuality for translation research, addressing questions of terminology and methodology.

PART I Genette’s concept of the paratext and its development across disciplines

Chapter 1: Genette’s paratext

Chapter 2: Paratexts in translation studies

Chapter 3: Paratexts in digital, media and communication studies

PART II Case studies

Chapter 4: Authorised translations and paratextual relevance: English versions of Nietzsche

Chapter 5: Making the foreign Serve China: Chinese paratexts of Western translation theory texts

Chapter 6: Walter Presents and its paratexts: curating foreign TV for British audiences

PART III Towards a theory of paratextuality for translation

Chapter 7: Translation and paratexts: terminology and typologies

Chapter 8: Translation and paratexts: research topics and methodologies