Robert Cyril Daglish (1924-1987) is now mostly remembered as an accomplished translator of books from Russian to English.Robert was born in Honor Oak Park, London, the son of Walter Daglish and Ethel Stocken. His grandfather, James Daglish, was born in North Shields, Northumberland, and the family moved to Bermondsey, London in the late 1880s. Robert read Russian history and literature at Jesus College, Cambridge. He started work at the British Embassy in Moscow in 1949, where he met and married his Russian wife, Ina Gregorievna Nogtich, in 1954.
In March 1982 in a letter written to Richard Daglish, Robert wrote:
“You will be surprised to find me domiciled out here. I have been working in Moscow for over thirty years on translations and dictionaries and am at present producing a complete English edition of the works of Mikhail Sholokhov (author of “Quiet Flows the Don”). I have also played small parts in eight Russian films.”
He also wrote:
“My interest in the family history has been mainly confined to wondering about the origin of our name, which is so often distorted by all and sundry, even the BBC pronounced it with the stress on the last syllable!”.
A more colourful account of Robert’s life in Moscow written by Lev Navrozov appeared under the title of “Why an Englishman Did Not Become a Soviet Citizen”, which makes an interesting read.
Robert is remembered at his old University through the Robert Daglish Fund. The Fund was established 'for the encouragement of Russian studies' through a bequest from his wife Ina in memory of her husband. The purpose of the Fund is to 'make grants or loans to undergraduate members of the University to assist them in travelling to or in Russia in connection with their studies in the University'.
6 comments:
If you’re a Lev Navrozov fan I would really recommend taking a look at this link. It’s filled with up to date articles written by Lev Navrozov
Fascinating, I'm presently reading Virgin Soil Upturned translated by Robert Daglish
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/78038.Virgin_Soil_Upturned
Interesting, I've been reading his translation of Sholokhov's The Fate of a Man and was wondering what the story behind the translator was.
Interesting to read about Robert Daglish -- I have a couple of books in my collection translated or edited by him. I'm also curious to know about the background of another translator -- one who worked with Mr. Daglish. His name: David Fidlon, and he was employed by Progress Publishers in Moscow.
I am very much interested on Robert Daglish. I read many many books of Russian authors translated by him. As I am fully ignorant of Russian language Mr Daglish made a great job for readers like us. His translations are the best I think.
I am trying to find out more about “Uncle Bob” (my godfather in Moscow) and Auntie Inna. I understand he was awarded the Order of Lenin for his compilation of the current Russian English dictionary. Whilst my grandmother, his mother, used to talk about him in his youger days I don’t kow much about his life in Moscow after 1949 apart from cards he sent me on my birthday and his address. Is there any more information about him now?
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