This volume consists of three parts. The first part reflects on problems that arise in theories on foreignness; it uses these reflections for analysing the translations of Goytisolo's, James', Musil's and Eliot's work. The second part is concerned with historical aspects; it shows the importance of cultural differences for the literary translation of works by Fielding, Dickens and Flaubert. Part 3 deals with foreign poetics and demonstrates how the literary tradition in the target culture influences the reception of a foreign work. It contains analyses of Różewicz, Baudelaire and Hölderlin.