[quote=Brian Allgar;359794]
Catherine, thank you for your comments. I am rather surprised by your remarks on the title, which I find misplaced, and – dare I say it? - just a touch offensive. Yes, in certain contexts, “Belle de Nuit” can be a euphemism for “prostitute”, but that is hardly its primary meaning, and it is not one that occurred to the French author, my French wife, or any of our French friends and relations who have heard the song. Perhaps you would have preferred me to translate the title as Mirabilis jalapa?
It may interest you to know that there is a guest-house called “Belle de Nuit” in the village of Oppède-le-Vieux. I very much doubt whether any of the people who stay there are expecting to find themselves in a brothel.
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/quote]
Sorry you felt (and of course you may say it) offended by my observation of a very common usage of the term "belle de nuit". Despite your extensive French entourage, and I can speak from experience as well, it is difficult for me to believe that it didn't occur to even one of them that the term might be seen as (as I stated in my comment) "unfortunate" as a title. As a participant in the bakeoff, and as a translator, and as no one else had mentioned it, I hardly feel my comment is "misplaced". Actually, if you reread my entire critique, you will note that there are quite a few other nits as well and the "belle de nuit" comment was only added as an afterthought. Your additional comments above, wry and ironic, are understandable, and indeed provided a chuckle or two.
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