Methodology in (literary) translator studies: Róża Centnerszwerowa’s case study

Drawing on Chesterman’s (2009) work in translator studies, this article proposes a methodological approach to examining a translator and the influence of their life on their translations. It does so through the case of the Polish translator Róża Centnerszwerowa (1867–1940), who is ‘brought out’ of what Venuti (2008) called ‘the shadow’ of the source-text author. In this study, events from the translator’s life are juxtaposed with excerpts from her translations and her overall translation output to demonstrate that, just as an author’s life may be reflected in their writing, a translator’s experiences can also shape their translations. The analysis is conducted at both the macro level, encompassing Centnerszwerowa’s entire body of work, and the micro level, focusing on individual translations. By offering further methodological suggestions, this study contributes to current knowledge of Centnerszwerowa and underscores the value of biographical research in translator studies.