20-24 septembrie 2009 - Biblioteca Metropolitana Bucuresti

158 Ilie Rad4. Text transcriptionA lot of criticisms could be raised against the author, with regard tothe manner in which the texts are reproduced, however these should beexcused considering the precarious conditions in which Aron Pumnulworked, the urgency to print the work, the lack of experience in thepractice of editing, etc. Transcribing, for example, Gr. Alexandrescu’s wellknown poem, Mircea’s Shadow (Umbra lui Mircea). At Cozia (La Cozia),whose source is mentioned by the author (first edition, Souvenirs andImpressions, Letters and Fables, Bucharest, 1847), Aron Pumnul not onlyoperates changes in punctuation, but also replaces some words with theirphonetic variants (cǎtre > cǎtrǎ, dimpotrivǎ > de-mpotriva, ş-ale > şiale,mǎnǎstirei > mânǎstirii, cadenţǎ > cǎdinţǎ) or worse, modifies certainwords in accordance with his own conception of language (generaţii >generǎciuni). Within the text of the same poem, there are also changes suchas: “Traian, cinste a Romei” > “Traian ce-i mǎrirea Romei”; “Uriaş e alDaciei” > “Este el urmaşul dacic?” etc. Similar examples could be foundin any of The Reader’s reproduced texts, but, as I stated, such changesdictated by the editor’s or the publisher’s tastes were a frequent habit at thetime. We recall that V. Alecsandri interrupted his collaboration with TheSociety’s Paper... (Foaia Societǎţii), precisely because the editors used tochange the texts he had submitted for publication. Fair enough, the poetstated in a letter addressed to Al. Hurmuzachi: “If the Paper... wants tohave me as a contributor, I demand that they receive me with all my faultsof style and language, and not to cripple me from head to toe and changemy words.” 175. Contemporary reactionsAron Pumnul’s desire was, of course, that once printed, the fourvolumes should have the widest possible dissemination. In 1864, he senthis first three volumes of The Reader (Lepturariu) to Titu Maiorescu, mostprobably accompanied by a letter, in which he must have hinted at theissue of distribution inside the United Principalities. We indirectly deducethis fact from a reply written by Titu Maiorescu and dated 9 July/1 August1864, in which he stated, among other things: “I begin by thanking you forthe gracious surprise of sending me The Reader (Lepturariul). I am a bitlate with my grateful reply, but I have been occupied with examinations,17Cf. PhD. Radu I. Sbiera 1983, Memories about Eminescu. With 4 tables – schoolacts. Preface, notes and bibliography by Pavel Ţugui, Craiova: University PrintingHouse, 192.