Van C. Gessel
| Van C. Gessel | |
|---|---|
| Born |
August 1, 1950 Compton, California, United States |
| Nationality | United States of America |
| Alma mater |
University of Utah (B.A.) Columbia University (Ph.D.) |
| Occupation | Professor of Japanese Literature, Translator |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Gessel |
| Children | 3 |
Van C. Gessel (born August 1, 1950, Compton, California) is a former Dean of the BYU College of Humanities at Brigham Young University.[1] He also served as chair of the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages at BYU. He has become renowned for his work as the primary translator for Japanese novelist Endo Shusaku. He is also a prominent editor of several Japanese translations including The Columbia Anthology of Modern Japanese Literature (Volume 1 published in 2005, Volume 2 in 2007).
Biography
Gessel is a graduate of the University of Utah from which he received a bachelor's degree and Columbia University from which he received a PhD in Japanese literature in 1979. He has taught as a faculty member at Columbia University, Notre Dame, UC Berkeley, and Brigham Young University. From 2005-2008 Gessel served as the president of the Portland, Oregon Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Gessel and his wife Elizabeth have three children.[2]
As the primary translator for novelist Endo Shusaku Gessel has translated eight novels from Japanese to English.
Written works
- Japanese Fiction Writers Since WWII
- Three Modern Novelists
- The Sting of Life
Translations
- The Samurai (1980) by Endo Shusaku
- Deep River (1993) by Endo Shusaku
- Kiku's Prayer by Endo Shusaku
- Five by Endo by Endo Shusaku
- Stained Glass Elegies by Endo Shusaku
- The Final Martyrs by Endo Shusaku
- When I Whistle by Endo Shusaku
- Scandal by Endo Shusaku
Edited Works
- Taking the Gospel to the Japanese: 1901 to 2001
- The Shōwa Anthology
- The Shōwa Anthology II
- The Columbia Anthology of Modern Japanese Literature (Volume 1 published in 2005, Volume 2 in 2007)