Love happens when least expected
Hello my friends, your recent comments, insights and contributions, particularly the ones to Terry’s brief letter to Candy, are greatly appreciated. ❤️ I’d like to point out that I have double checked Terry’s farewell note to her before leaving St. Paul’s Academy. He used ぼく (boku) in that one too. Perhaps that was his writing style, or he did that just in case anyone else found it before Candy did.
Those of you who have ordered the Spanish version but not yet received your copy of the Candy Candy Final Story (CCFS), you might want to check Myra’s comparisons of different translations of this famous letter. Like Myra, I was surprised that both French and Spanish translators have decided to omit “since then”. The literal translation should be “since that thing/event, you know” with the implication that Candy knew what he meant, and I think it’s rather important. However, the French translation did correctly convey that Terry did not mean to wait another half a year.
The more I think about it the more I am convinced “that event” was not Susanna’s death. Remember, Terry might be in his late twenties or older by then, and he should not be so selfish to have wished Candy had not moved on in her life. As a matter of fact, if Terry was eager to reunite with Candy, why did he decide to wait for a year first? Then another half a year had passed before he made up his mind (思い切って). Sadly, many Terry fans have jumped to conclusion. I’ve done a quick Google search of Chinese Candy Candy fan sites and found the first result page full of the same claim — that Candy was married to/reunited with Terry simply because they had learned about Susanna’s demise in CCFS, published in late 2010. Honestly, there are other clues that are not supporting Terry as Anohito. For example, please read Fay’s comment about the roses taken care by Candy herself and Anita’s analysis of Anohito’s personality traits.
I did not check if those websites have been updated since. In general, pro-Terry fans have been evidently unwilling to open their eyes. The public ranting on Facebook or YouTube against the editor of the Spanish version of Candy Candy Final Story are eyebrow-raising to say the least. They went so far as to demand the restructuring of the novel! For your interest, please read the comment section of my previous post, in particular this comment from Anita. (By the way, it’s been an honour and a privilege chatting with you all, and since some of you are fluent in several languages, I have learned a lot from you as well. 🤩 )
Also, thank you Louna for sharing the answers from Carles the editor with us. Although I don’t agree with his perspectives entirely, I think he brought up very good points about Candy’s different stages in her life, which correspond to the three parts in the novel. Carles also mentioned the well-known “three loves” essay in another debate session. Because of this, my friend Candy Albert has shared with me yet another website called Candy Candy bootlegs. Despite its strange name, it consists of various discussions or interviews concerning Candy Candy, including the interviews of Nagita and Iagrashi. Candy Albert has probably shared this on her Facebook page already (William Albert Andrew (el príncipe de la colina)).
Today, I’m going to translate two interviews shown on a page in Candy Candy Bootlegs. The first interview is about Candy’s three loves, very similar to the one published in a bimonthly magazine, “Jidou-bungei” in 1980, which was also published in the book “Interviews with manga authors” by Osamu Takeuchi / Tomohiko Murakami, in 1989:
«けれど、テリイと別れることは初めから決っていたのだ。キャンディには三つの愛を考えていた。アンソニーとの淡いはかない初恋、テリイとの激しい恋、そしてアルバートさんとの運命的な穏やかな愛。»
Most Candy Candy fans know that Nagita sensei had planned in the beginning to separate Terry and Candy, but on the other hand, Albert and Candy were destined to be together. Albert’s love is calm, placid, serene, kind, etc., and in CCFS, Candy herself said Albert gave her a marvelous sense of security.
The interview shown in Candy Candy bootlegs was slightly different but very similar. It was published in “Candy Candy” Encyclopedia by Keibunsha on June 25, 1980. You can scroll down the page until you see the words 三つの愛 (three loves). Right below that you see Nagita sensei (using her pen name Mizuki) and her dog. The picture was taken at the French Chateau Hotel where she wrote the final episode. Below is the summary of her interview, followed by my attempt to translate (I tried not to paraphrase):
(summary) Ignoring the common practice to this day (of writing) about an orphan looking for the mother, (this is about) an optimistic/positive girl’s three loves in her life — her first love was Anthony, short-lived but transparent; his love was gentle and nothing more. The next one was the intense love of youth with Terry, and they had to separate despite being in love. The last one I wrote Candy with Albert, his love peaceful and gentle.
About Anthony’s love, the meaning is “his love is gentle only”, but it sounds very odd in English. About Terry’s love, some people have translated 激しい to violent or passionate, but I’d rather pick “intense”. 😉 In my humble opinion, if he had been passionate he would not have left London so easily. Also, 青春 means youth or about being young, so not necessarily restricted to adolescence.
The other interview on the same page is more interesting to me, because I’ve never read anything like this before. Just scroll up a bit until you see the words “1978年6月”. You see two magazine pages with the title “第4部はどうなる？” (What’s going to happen in Volume 4) and the drawings of Candy, Anthony and Terry at the top right corner.
For those who don’t know, the manga was serialized in a magazine called Nakayoshi 『なかよし』 . In May 1978, Volume 3 of Candy Candy was completed. Yet, in June, instead of continuing the story in Volume 4, the magazine showed “Emergency interview of Igarashi and Mizuki sensei: what’s going to happen in Volume 4?” The following is the outline of the first half of the interview (my translation is italicized in parentheses, and again, I tried my best to stick to the original without much paraphrasing). If someone can translate it better, please kindly let me know:
テリィとキャンディのこれからは……？(Terry and Candy after this…?)
編集部：第三部は、キャンディとテリィの別れというおもいがけない結末で、読者からもたいへんな反響がよせられています。そこでズバリおききしたいのですが、これからの二人はどうなるのでしょう？テリィはもう、第四部には登場しないのですか？(Editor: The ending of Volume 3, namely, Candy breaking up with Terry, is unanticipated. Lots of reactions (feedback) have been received from the readers. I’d like to ask you directly, after this what’s going to happen between the two? Will Terry no longer appear in Volume 4?)いがらし先生：そんなことはないですよ。(Igarashi sensei: That’s not true.)
編集部：ということは、二人はまたむすばれるかも？(Editor: So, will the two be together again, perhaps?)
水木先生：さあ、どうかしら……。それはご想像におまかせします。(Mizuki sensei: Well, I don’t know… I will leave it to you to imagine that.)
編集部：ひょっとして、テリィにかわる新しい男性があらわれるとか？(Editor: By any chance, will a new man appear to replace Terry, something like that?)
いがらし先生：これだけはハッキリいえますが、キャンディはそんなに浮気な女の子じゃないです。(Igarashi sensei: Only this I can clearly say, Candy is not such a fickle girl.)
水木先生：そう、二人の愛は、青春をかけた真剣な愛だったはずです。ただ一ついえることは、人間にはいろんな愛がありますね。だからキャンディに、テリィの場合とはまったくちがった大きな意味での愛が、また生まれる可能性はあります。(Mizuki sensei: That’s right. Their young love is supposed to be serious. The only thing I can say is this, there are many kinds of love. Hence, for Candy, there is a possibility a significant love, which is completely different from Terry’s case, will come into existence.)
編集部：そうですか。でも、キャンディがあまりにもかわいそうという声が多いのですが、第四部ではかの女はしあわせになれるでしょうか？これは、すべての読者の願い、いや祈りだと思うのですが……。(Editor: Is that so? Still, many express that Candy is excessively miserable, but in Volume 4 will she become happy? I think this is the wish of all readers, well, their plea (prayer)… )
いがらし先生：あたしたちも、心からそうなるように望んでいます。(Igarashi sensei: So do we. I sincerely hope that will happen.)
水木先生：第四部も、キャンディにとってはけっして平たんな道ではないけれど、かの女なら負けないわよ。 (Mizuki sensei: Although it is by no means a smooth path for Candy in Volume 4 either, she will not be defeated.)
第4部はどうなる？ (What’s going to happen in Volume 4)
In the original text, it was the “Editorial team” who asked the questions, but I simply put “Editor”. The longest answer from Nagita sensei (as Mizuki sensei back then) about the potential new love completely different Terry’s case is not easy to translate. The adjective 大きな can mean significant, crucial, great, large, and so on, and 意味 is significance, meaning, sense, etc. The term 生まれる Nagita sensei used literally means “being born”.
I can hardly imagine how the readers would react back then when reading this interview. There were unknowns and uncertainties, and some were probably still very upset about the break up. With hindsight, the hint provided by Nagita sensei can’t be more obvious. She had to keep it a secret that Candy’s next love would be Albert. Many must have been shocked to find out Albert was actually William A. Ardlay or Prince on the Hill near the end of the manga version.
One of the Chinese websites that I mentioned above even said that Albert’s first appearance was unimpressive/unattractive (毫不起眼) and mysterious/incognito (身份神秘) until the very last episode. All in all, this webpage owner sounded nonchalant. I suppose s/he had probably not read the manga? Oh well… it’s too bad for him/her. S/he missed the essence of the Candy Candy story, IMHO. 😉 As I said before, it was the story between Candy and her prince, the first and last guy in her life.
In the manga, Albert was undoubtedly in love with Candy, but his feelings were subtle when compared to Albert in CCFS. “Love happens when least expected” applied to both Candy and Albert. They had not seen it coming, and neither had the readers.
This reminds me of the debate amongst some Candy Candy fans in a Facebook group years ago. Back then, most of us had not read the Candy Candy Final Story (CCFS), only the spoilers or snippets, so our arguments were mainly based on the manga version.
The debate was about when exactly Albert read Candy’s diary. The diary is not in the manga (or the old CC novel?), and it is what I consider one of the most outstanding additions in CCFS. Some believed Albert read it when he was in Africa before he left, and some figured he didn’t get to read it until after he returned to Georges after having recovered from amnesia. Some even said Georges did not have the heart to show the young heir the diary until he asked about it (say, after Albert had moved out of the House of Magnolia). I belonged to those who thought that Nagita sensei was cruel if Albert read the diary after recovering from amnesia.
In the manga, he found himself fallen for the kind nurse upon his recovery, and in CCFS Nagita sensei even extended their time living together — roughly two years or more — but also deliberately made Albert cut all ties with Georges when he set off for Africa. Therefore, Georges had no way to inform his boss that Candy had suddenly left St. Paul’s Academy, leaving something wrapped for William A. Ardlay. Back then Candy expected Granduncle William would want to know why she decided to quit school, and she believed he would understand her if he read her diary that explained it all.
I wonder how Albert felt when he was reading the diary while being in love with Candy! Yes, he was fully aware of her unmistakable feelings for Terry, but it’s a different matter when reading her own words about loving Terry more than anyone else (if you like to know more, you might find it interesting why Candy used 大好き daisuki to express her feelings even in her diary). Consider the following: was Albert motivated to track down Terry because of the content of her diary?
It is unfortunate the details of how or why Candy ended up going to Rockstown to find Albert is lacking in CCFS, so I assumed it’s the same as shown in the manga version — Albert tricked Candy by sending her a parcel from Rockstown with his note.
What was Albert thinking? Do you think it’s safe to assume that he somehow knew she missed him very much and was desperate to look for him?
Needless to say, the outcome of the trip to Rockstown must have taken Albert by surprise. Some time later, in her unsent letter to Terry, Candy was quite certain that Albert had read her diary, where she had been honest and candid about her thoughts, feelings and opinions. She wrote どんな顔をしてあの日記を読んだのかしら。Literally this meant “what kind of face did he make after reading that diary, I wonder”. 😀 Then she added that “even now neither of us can broach the subject”.
Note that she never planned to send this letter to Terry or anyone else, so she basically was talking to herself about Albert. Come to think of it, if he had been a father figure or remained a brother/friend to her, why did she care about his reactions? Wasn’t she the one who requested to pass it to Granduncle William?
Candy said she was able to tell Albert everything, right? If not, she would not have agreed to “share a sandwich” with him. She even told him about Prince on the Hill and showed him the badge, countless times. If I’m not mistaken, she never told Terry about her prince (lest he would be jealous?). Hence, since when the subject of Terry became so sensitive that neither Albert nor Candy would take the step to bring it up?
Remember, Candy wrote that in present tense, and in the following paragraph she told Terry that Albert had not confessed to her right after he had regained his memory. She then described Albert as someone with many mysteries (謎が多い）, in present tense as well. It seems to me she sensed something was going on between them. The fact why he couldn’t immediately tell her his recovery might have opened her eyes. In her recollections, she did mention it was different living with a family member and Albert occupied a special place in her heart. As she wondered how he felt (about her?), she suddenly made an exasperating remark. 😉
So when did Candy write this unsent letter? We know that she wrote it at Pony’s Home and congratulated Terry’s long-run performance and success as Hamlet in this letter. It was so popular that they would perform in England. If Terry returned to New York soon after he saw Candy in that roadside theatre, it would take him a considerable time to re-establish his career as an actor. Do you think Stratford would give him important roles right away? Likely not. Maybe at least two years had elapsed since her trip to Rockstown, by then her feelings for Albert, also known as Granduncle William to others, were still strong, so much so that she talked about Albert here and there in her letter to Terry.
Candy didn’t get her diary back until her day trip to Lakewood with Albert. Another year or so had passed by, probably? Yet, their relationship was no longer platonic, and Albert was ready to return her precious item (大事なもの), despite having a hard time concealing his unease.
I still think Nagita sensei was cruel to make Albert read the diary when being in love with Candy (and hiding from her). However, this precisely makes his action — the return of her diary — admirable. Prior to that, Candy was not shy to let him know her deep feelings for him, and Albert took the initiative to reveal his childhood nickname to her and let her call him with that name, which made her feel exhilarated. Who would blame him even if he decided to bury the diary? Yet, he put her happiness or wishes before his own. In other words, he did not want to be her second best, and she had to make a conscious choice. No wonder Nagita sensei said that Albert’s love was completely different from Terry’s love.
This is my advice to those fans who have made bizarre requests to the Spanish editor to restructure the novel. Please read the novel, especially section 3, carefully and stop looking for clues. It’s the content of Candy and Albert’s letters that truly matters, not where they are placed in the book. LOL. 😀
Greetings, Ms Puddle!
Thank for for updating us with another very insightful commentary. I agree with your contributor, Anita, about Anohito’s personality traits. Whilst many of them can be ascribed to both Terry and Albert, there are those 3 characteristics Anita had mentioned which can only be attributed to Albert: 1. Gift-giving and generosity; 2. Giving space in a relationship and alternatives; 3. Arms open wide and full embrace which Candy loves being enveloped in.
There is also that final scene with the car coming in during the 1930s. Nowhere in the CCFS do we have any mention of Terry driving or enjoying vehicles. Some of his fans believe that Terry is a “car guy” because he likes driving in the anime and the manga. However, Keiko Nagita has made it crystal clear in the Preface of her CCFS novel that readers must not take either the anime or the manga into account but only her novel as published in 2010. Since there is no mention of Terry driving in the CCFS but only Albert driving and enjoying this activity, then we could draw a logical conclusion that Albert is the one driving home back to Candy in the 1930s.
Meant to say: Thank you for updating us!
Hello @Irana93, thank you for reading my lengthy post. Glad to hear you like it!
Yes I agree with you. I bet the other guys drove too but Nagita sensei wrote in several occasions throughout CCFS where Albert was driving, including his runaway. He even told Candy he was a good driver. 😉
One reader once wrote a review to my story about another crucial hint. That is, Anohito told Candy not to judge people by their appearance. The reader claimed this was so not Terry. 😀
Your reader’s comment is excellent! Nowhere did Terry ever discuss about not judging others by their appearance. However, Albert had made such discussions often with Candy, staring off with their first encounter when he tried to alleviate her fears that he’s not a pirate nor criminal due to his long beard and dark glasses and, secondly, when he informed Candy that she shouldn’t dismiss skunks as ugly but look into their beautiful aspects when referring to Poupee’.
Well said, @Irana93! Albert had been judged by many others, including lots of readers, simply because of his appearance. 😉
Albert’s predicament following his war-related accident reminds me a bit of Mark Twain’s classic novel “The Prince and the Pauper”, only in this case Albert doesn’t meet his doppelgänger but struggles with his own alter ego.
As explained in his letters to Candy, Albert always wanted to break free from the Ardlay elders who constantly pressured him and gave him no freedom whatsoever. He didn’t care about living in poverty because he thought it would be better being destitute but free from the confines of the Ardlays.
However, he got to realize the hard way how rough the life of the poor really is, especially when it comes to access to healthcare. He was tossed into Room Zero because the medical staff thought that he was a mere nobody. Apparently, he would have received completely different treatment if this medical personnel knew his true identity and most importantly, his financial wealth.
Needless to mention that Albert was despised by the everyone in the hospital because he had been mistaken for a spy on the train en route to Italy.
I utterly agree with you that if anyone knows what it means to suffer from mistaken or misunderstood identity, that definitely is Albert.
Very interesting, @Irana93. 👏 In addition to what you said, Albert evidently did not judge Dr. Leonard. He had even forgiven the doctor for having mistreated him. 😉
Albert’s concern wasn’t to forgive Dr Leonard but to focus on improving the conditions for all patients, irrespective of their financial background and social status. This is what makes Albert such a fine man. He’s a class act.
So true. Not only that, Albert selected Dr. Leonard as the family doctor for the Ardlays. It’s funny Candy in her letter to Great Aunt Elroy said that “despite his appearance” he was a kind and good doctor. 😉
Dear Ms Puddle,
Your drawings are so beautiful. Thanks for sharing even though you’re so busy with your job. I hope you’re safe from the riots which have affected so many parts of North America.
Concerning your comment about Terry and Susanna, it’s such a shame that some Terry-fans stoop so low as to eagerly await Susanna’s death in order to pair him again with Candy. Some of those fans have no class. It’s pathetic of them to beg for Susanna’s death. If they had any self-respect, they would have requested from Nagita to write a segment where Terry actually wants to reunite with Candy whilst Susanna is still alive and perhaps she could have even been getting better. Maybe Terry and Susanna had talked it over and they either agreed to end their relationship or Terry accumulated the courage to finally stand up and proclaim his love for Candy-if he ever truly loved her, that is. But that never happened-not in the CCFS nor anywhere else.
It seems that Terry’s cowardice far exceeds any love for any woman-whether it be Candy or Susanna or anyone else. Male chauvinists like Terry turn out to be pathetic little wimps when faced with daunting challenges. Suddenly, all their self-proclaimed toughness collapses like a sand castle.
Thank you @Michelle for your encouragement! This drawing was an old one I did last year based on two letters in the CCFS epilogue: Candy’s request to Albert and her reaction when reading his reply.
Well said! My sentiments exactly. Terry fans have totally missed the point that Candy was terribly upset upon her discovery of Susanna’s death. Apparently, Candy wasn’t waiting for Terry to get rid of Susanna or hoping that he would return to her. Some people even said that Candy was already with Anohito then or might have moved to England.
Only obsessive and diseased people wait for someone to die in order to reclaim that person they had broken up with. It’s disgusting and cheap.
Concerning the theory about Candy already being with anohito when she had received Terry’s letter (if she had ever received it), there’s a possibility that she was already with anohito when she had found out about Susanna’s death too. Based on the novel, Susanna was still alive after the end of WWI because Terry’s sterling performance as Hamlet was way after 1918 and Susanna was still alive during that time. If she died, it would have been during the mid-1920s.
Are we supposed to expect that Candy had been waiting for Terry for over a decade? If so, then we’re talking about a very unrealistic and insufferably cheesy story.
I have some questions regarding the timeline of the CCFS:
1. If Candy was born in 1898, that means that the May Fest was in 1912 when she became 14. She had broken up with Terry a few months after Italy had joined the war in 1915. Stear died in early 1918 which was a few months before the war had ended. Albert disappeared shortly after Stear’s death and his official appearance as WAA was either shortly before or shortly after the end of the war. The grand opening of the Lagan hotels in Florida were after the end of WWI, right?
2. Weren’t the letters exchanged between Candy and Albert also after the end of WWI since they were written after the grand opening of the Lagan hotels?
3. Were those hotels in Florida a consortium between the Lagans and WAA or did they belong to the Lagans alone?
Yes @Michelle the pro-Terry fans assumed Candy would wait for him forever and even judged her as not being faithful to him if she moved on in her life. When they broke up, Terry basically made Candy promise him to find happiness without him. I guess these fans have either ignored that part or assumed Terry did not really mean what he said?
All in all, their claims have only made their beloved hero look pathetic and incredibly selfish.
About the timeline in CCFS, nobody knows for sure but we did get clues from the book. I mostly agree with the one you’ve come up, except about Stear’s death.
In Patty’s letter, she mentioned U.S. might join its allies in the great war. We know that U.S. entered World War I on April 6, 1917. Hence Stear had died before then.
I don’t know when WAA made his debut but Candy was supposed to discover his true identity before the war was over. Remember Neal’s threat and his forced engagement?
The grand opening of the Lagan’s resort took place soon after the war. Candy in her letter (to Stewart?) mentioned something like the war was over but countries were still in chaos. I don’t think the resort belonged to the Lagans alone, mainly because Candy said the Lagans could expand their business with the help from the Ardlays. Besides, they had invited all the Ardlays (but only Albert, Candy and Georges showed up). Granduncle William not only had the power to make Sarah Lagan apologize to Candy during the party, he also stood right in the middle when they took the family and staff photo. Speaking of which, it’s very intriguing why Candy deemed this particular photo valuable in her thirties. 😉
And yes, Albert did not confess to be Prince on the Hill until after the grand opening. But I have a feeling it was within months, presumably the grand opening had taken place in the winter. Considered that the best season in Florida is from November to May, and Albert’s confession occurred some time before Candy’s birthday in May.
Thank you for informing me, Ms Puddle. It seems that the correspondence between Candy and Albert was during the early or perhaps even mid 1920s. Let’s not forget that letters took some time to reach their destination so these letters could encompass a period of s couple of years considering the fact that Candy and Albert would meet up in between those letters sent to one another. What do you think?
@Michelle, as I said, nobody knows the timeline for sure, but the one in my mind is like this:
Grand opening party in Florida: Dec 1918 or early 1919
Albert’s confession: March or April 1919
Candy’s birthday party in Chicago in May: turning 21?
Albert soon left for Brazil for so long that even Candy complained and wanted to see him in person
Albert’s surprised visit in Spring 1920, taking Candy to Lakewood.
The return of the diary.
Her mental letter to Anthony.
Her letter to Little Bert.
Just my 2 cents, of course. 🙂
Why Spring 1920? Mainly because of the various flowers mentioned in her letter, particularly bluebells in the forest (the Italian translator got this wrong btw). Bluebells don’t last long, and in where I live, they bloom in early May and start withering after a couple of weeks. Not sure about the weather in Lakewood though.
That’s the reason why I made that early to mid 1920s estimate. It seems to make sense because Candy was an adult by then. She also appears to be far more mature and willing to put the past behind her and move on.
While she kept on talking about Albert in her unsent letter to Terry, Candy doesn’t appear to be interested in talking about Terry in her letters to Albert. The only time she mentions Terry is after Albert handed over the diary to her. Yet, she wrote to Albert soon after to tell him that she doesn’t want that diary and she’ll happily give it back to Albert just as he had given his badge back to her. No matter how hard the Terry-fans try to distort this information, Candy is determined to move on and leave Terry behind her. Her present and most certain future is with Albert.
As for the Lagans, I also had the impression that those hotels in Florida were a consortium between the Lagans and the Ardlays. I just wanted to know what you also think about it. Candy mentions that the Lagans grew stronger from the financial recession after the stock market crash and their hotel business soared. If Albert had stocks and shares in that hotel business, he would have also garnered a massive profit.
Very good point, @Michelle. Candy mentioned Terry in her letters to Albert only because she knew what her diary was all about. She understood the meaning behind Albert’s action and firmly declared her resolve to put the past behind her.
Some people couldn’t seem to comprehend the meaning of this letter and came up with lots of excuses or explanation why Candy did not open her diary or gave it back to Albert. 😑🙄
About the Lagans and their hotel business, it’s a valid point too. I think the Ardlays had many properties and businesses in different continents, but the stock market crash might have affected them. That’s probably why they had to sell the villa in Lakewood. Or they sold it because Albert decided to invest the money elsewhere and/or move the precious family items to Europe with him. 😉
If some of those hysterical Terry-fans had the chance, they would have torn the entire Epilogue as well as all the references to Albert in the CCFS. I wouldn’t be surprised if they have already done so with their own books.😂
No matter how hard they try to downplay the significance of the relationship between Candy and Albert, they simply fall flat on their own asinine arguments. Even Keiko Nagita explained to her readers during the Paris interview held last year that the epistolary style is her favorite and that she placed the Epilogue at the end of the novel so as to provide greater impact. These are the author’s words herself and there is no use trying to prove the opposite, thereafter.
Regarding the financial recession, I agree with you that Albert would have been affected but not too much because he had numerous businesses in Brazil, England and property in Scotland. If the Lagans did well during the financial recession, it’s most certain that Albert was alright as well. If Albert were to become poor, then Terry would have been a beggar in the streets since actors and artists were hit even harder by the recession and their income was meager anyway.
I don’t think Albert sold Lakewood for financial purposes. In my opinion, he sold that estate due to the many painful memories which escalated with Anthony’s tragic death within that territory. I think Albert wanted to arrange the engagement between Archie and Annie at Lakewood in order to ‘seal’ that place with a beautiful and positive event because that place had been associated with so many tragic events. Afterwards, he wanted to let go and leave that place by selling it to other owners. He had lost so many people dear to him at Lakewood and it would have been a healthy decision for him to sell that property.
Just to double-check this detail with you, when Albert had invited Candy to see him, it was at his estate in Chicago, right? Isn’t that the place where he had arranged for the dark-green furniture to decorate Candy’s bedroom? Isn’t that also the place where the party was held and Candy was disappointed that she had only managed to catch a glimpse of Albert because he was so busy at work?
Hi @Michelle, I see that you’ve figured out the answers to your questions about Candy’s birthday party in Chicago. Yes, Albert had a bedroom dedicated to her in that mansion, colored in mint green color and furnished with handmade wooden furniture. I think Albert had to work but did stay a bit. He just didn’t have much time to talk to Candy, as per her birthday wish. Yet I forgot the details now, such as whether he showed her the bedroom, the horses and the presents he had prepared. I might double check this later.
If the hysterical Terry fans want to tear all references to Albert in the CCFS, then almost the entire section 3 is gone, lol 😀 Candy talked to others about Albert too and even mentioned him in her letter to Miss Baker. I see that as her subtle hint to Terry’s mother — “Miss Baker, unlike you, I didn’t come here for Terry.” She also brought up her promise to Susanna. Just in case Miss Baker was unaware.
You’re not the only one who said Albert had sold Lakewood because of the sad memories. I don’t agree, because he also had good memories there. Besides, if I remember correctly, Candy missed that villa and even the Lagan’s place. Despite the tragedy (fox hunting), she had fond memories with Albert and his nephews there.
Regardless, I’m in complete agreement with you about Albert or the Ardlays not being affected too much by the recession.
In fact, Candy seemed pretty well off with Anohito somewhere in southern England. They lived in a house with a wide terrace where she could see the river nearby. They hired someone to take care of the garden although she personally took care of the roses. Anohito drove a car to work and Candy had the leisure to indulge in reminiscence at home. How long? For hours? No chores? 😉
Just looked through the novel and found out that Albert had invited Candy to his mansion in Chicago. It’s in Chicago where the aforementioned party took place and Candy was longing to see Albert but he only appeared briefly and had to leave again for work.
After watching those YouTube videos where the editor and translators explain their various tasks surrounding the CCFS, it was interesting that the editor had dampened the spirits of the Terry-fans by reminding them that adolescent romance and passion don’t last forever but fade and succumb to maturity and pragmatism when becoming adults. His comment was in response to various Terry-fan claims that Albert was not in love with Candy because he prioritized his career. The editor replied that this inevitably happens to everyone and whether Candy was married to Terry or Albert, both men would prioritize their work because both Terry and Albert adored their job. In fact, during the Interwar period, Candy is found alone reminiscing about all the events which had unfolded during her lifetime. There is no indication that Candy is in employment but she’s a housewife waiting for either Terry or Albert to return home from work. Candy was never a career-driven person but became a nurse because she had to sustain herself. She got into nursing school thanks to Miss Pony’s connections with Mary Jane, the head of the nursing school in Chicago. Candy’s experience in working at a hospital is minimum and she spent most of her time working for Dr Martin and then for Miss Pony at the orphanage. That being said, whether Terry or Albert was her husband in the 1930s, they would have to provide for her and work long hours since she was a housewife and unemployed. Some of those Terry-fans are delusional when they believe that Candy and Terry would have retained the same adolescent passion in their mid to late 30s. Terry was a completely different person in New York who focused predominately on his career and always put that in first place. Whether Candy had married Terry or Albert, she would continue to be the conventional housewife waiting for her husband to come home from work so she’ll have his meal ready for him. That’s how it was back then for women and Candy is no exception. For those who believe that Candy is a Feminist symbol, they’re ridiculously mistaken. Candy is known for her resilience but she is not a Feminist.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us, @DanielleV. Very interesting, and what the editor said made sense. I can hardly believe they think Albert did not love Candy simply because he had prioritized his work. 🙄
Yes indeed Terry had changed once he began his career as an actor. He was very serious about it too. Can I use their argument to say that Terry did not love Candy because he didn’t go visit Candy at Chicago? 😉
It’s double-standards and adulterated arguments all the way for some of those fans. Their dishonesty and sheer lack of personal integrity are baffling. The good news is that hardly anyone takes them seriously in the CC community. We’re just talking about a handful of miserable creatures who stalk and harass all the CC fan-pages but they get hilariously mocked in return. They’ve been reduced to village fools.
After the release of the Spanish translation, they have been striving in all desperation to convince people that Terry is anohito even though the novel does not mention that anywhere. They even try to use their fanfic as a means to prove their nonsensical claims.
They’ve even stooped as low as to accuse the editor of maintaining the ambiguous ending of the CCFS in order to make more sales. They have to be reminded that the editor has no say in this but only Nagita and her agent.
I’m glad that this third and most certainly final translation has finally come out and has proven that both Terry and Albert constitute equivalent suitors for Candy and any of those two could be her husband in the 1930s. Hats off to the Arechi Manga editorial board for not paying heed to silly fans.
Sigh… I wonder if you and other ladies all have been talking about the same group of hysterical fans. I have no doubt some pro-Terry fans are reasonable and mentally healthy. Readers have their rights to choose their favourite characters, and if they like Terry, it’s fine with me. Just don’t force others to like Terry too or insult the other characters in the same story.
I hope this is not the final translation though. There are many CC fans in Asia, like people in Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia, etc.
To make it clear, the majority of Terry-fans are reasonable people and I have enjoyed many a fruitful discussion with them. Both the Terry-fans and the Albert-fans have accepted that the novel ends in a mystery and we’ll probably never find out the identity of Candy’s partner in her 30s. There is so much material to talk about in the CCFS that we don’t really bother with that issue anymore. However, there is that very small group of older fans which is insane. They actually stalk the profiles and social media pages of CC fans and obsessively harass them. Fortunately, we all know who those losers are and they’ve been blocked, mocked, ignored or all the three combined. No matter how hard they try to stir trouble and cause discord within the CC community, nobody is wasting time with them. That’s why they’ve slithered back into their own echo chambers where they belong.
As I’ve already explained, I’m so glad this Spanish translation is faithful to the original Japanese novel. In terms of design, it’s far better than the Italian and the French books. The artists at Arechi Manga treated this novel with a lot of affection.
Girls I had made a request to exchange my book … Because I had several pages of the book and damaged borders … The exchange of the novel that was made to me is the second edition … With the correction of Candy’s age where the date of May 5, was deleted and replaced only in May.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3025153950900078&id=100002165070474
Thank you Louna97! Glad to hear that 🤗
Very interesting analysis of the Epilogue. However, I don’t think that Keiko Nagita was “cruel” when having Albert read Candy’s diary. On the contrary, I consider that it should have happened because Albert should know where his relationship with Candy stands. Even though this diary had been written ages ago when Candy was a mere teenager, her feelings for Terry were strong and definitely not to be underestimated in any way, even though she had begun to develop very strong feelings for Albert as well.
The question arises when Albert found the opportunity to read Candy’s diary. I find it highly unlikely that it was before he had suffered from amnesia because he was already in Africa and had cut all ties with the Ardlay elders and even with George. Therefore, it’s more plausible that Albert had read her diary after he had regained his memory. Perhaps his reading of this diary had prompted him to leave the Magnolia without a trace. The CCFS does not specify whether Albert had arranged the Candy-Terry “get-together” in Rockstown. It’s specified in the manga but not the novel. As Keiko Nagita has advised her readers to only consider the novel, I’ll remain skeptical whether Albert had arranged for Candy to go to Rockstown; Nagita neither affirms nor negates it. As many aspects of this novel, this incident also remains a moot point.
How did Albert feel when he read that diary? I’m sure he wasn’t pleased but Albert is known to be pragmatic and rational, therefore, he would have understood that he’s a bit of an “outsider” in this whole situation. Let’s face it.. He had never wanted this to happen. Albert wanted to leave his restricted life in the USA and take flight to Africa where he would live as a free man. He cared about Candy but he definitely wasn’t in love with her prior to his amnesia. Instead, he was delighted that Terry would take care of Candy as that would liberate him from any responsibilities. Albert was too young to be a father or a father-figure. He became her guardian only because Anthony, Stear and Archie begged him to protect her from the Lagans. Therefore, Albert was pleased that Terry would become Candy’s new protector and that would leave him free to pursue his own independent life in Africa. Based on that letter he had sent to Candy, it seemed that he was already becoming good friends with a pretty young American nurse in Kenya. Albert never needed Candy to be happy. An individual with his stunning looks, lofty height, high education and intelligence would never remain single for long.
Resuming to Candy’s diary, Albert wanted to set the record straight and see where Candy’s heart lies. Although he had never made it clear, Albert did drop a few subtle hints that he was interested in Candy and she sure did respond with great enthusiasm. Yet, Albert was not content with that. He knew that Candy was attracted to him but he didn’t want to be a mere replacement to Terry or keep the bed warm for him. He wanted to be the first choice for Candy and not second-best. This is the precise reason why he gave that diary back to her. Albert preferred to sustain a minor wound during an initial courting with Candy than to suffer massively when being in a serious relationship or even marriage with her but knowing that she may have wanted Terry instead. Albert is that type of individual who cuts ties with people before getting too close to them. It’s his defense mechanism and he’s one amazing strategist. On the other hand, Terry is a toxic male who resorts to uncontrollable fits of rage and acts of violence against the women he feels jealousy for as in the case of Candy. Whilst Terry can become extremely hysterical, Albert musters the technique of maintaining his resolve and, above all, his dignity.
Candy’s response to Albert was pure gold. The fact that she didn’t feel the need to open that diary but return it to Albert as he had returned his badge to her proves that she was over and done with Terry and wanted to move on. It would have been nonsensical if she returned that diary to Albert even though she still had feelings for Terry. By wanting to return her diary to Albert, Candy is making a statement that those adolescent feelings belonged to the past. She explained that she felt dread about Albert reading that diary because she knew she would have a hard time trying to convince him that she was only a teenager back then. She knows that her diary may affect Albert’s decision in wanting to be with her any further. The choice is not only hers, it’s also Albert’s to a great extent.
Thank you so much @Avon, and I’ve enjoyed reading your brilliant analysis too! I meant Nagita sensei was “cruel” to make Albert read the diary when he was already in love with Candy. If he read it in Africa (before the accident in Italy), it would not have ‘pained’ him too much. Just as you said, he ‘adopted’ Candy just because he wanted to help her and at the same time granted his nephews’ wishes. You’re right, as I mentioned in the post, I later found out Albert had cut all ties with the Ardlays, including Georges, so when he got the diary from Georges, he was either hiding from Candy or still living with her. I have a feeling that Georges did not give him the diary until he moved out. Just my 2 cents, of course.
About the days in Kenya, there are some fanfics about Albert having feelings for the nurse and vice versa. 😉 Who knows? They were adults already.
I can’t agree with you more. Albert clearly did not want to be Candy’s second best, and Candy seemingly understood why Albert returned the diary at this stage of their relationship. I like the fact that she did bring it home with her though, because it proved that she did have enough time to make up her mind.
Yet, I don’t think her diary’s content would affect Albert’s decision though. Did you mean how Candy handled her diary after getting it back, @Avon?
I agree with you about Candy not making any decision in haste but calmly taking the diary home with her. In my opinion, she also did that due to Albert’s reaction as he was distant and spoke in a very low voice because he was unnerved. He wasn’t even looking at her but facing the window. That moment is very intense and, presumably, Candy didn’t want to exacerbate the situation. It was wise of her to think it over at home and then make the firm decision to give that diary back to Albert as he had returned his badge to her. He had also kept that badge for a while and decided to give it back to her at a later date.
There are various snippets of information which assist the reader in realizing that what was going on between Candy and Albert was not mere friendship. Both Candy and Albert were not comfortable about that diary. Apparently, Albert wasn’t pleased to read all that information but it’s even more interesting that Candy was definitely not comfortable with Albert being the recipient of her diary either. I’m not in the position to know whether she would have been fine with Albert reading that diary back when she was a teenager, however, she was dreading the thought of Albert having read her diary when she was an adult. She was probably concerned about his reaction and how that would affect their relationship after all they had been through together.
Another significant piece of information in the CCFS which is very different to the anime and manga is that Candy explained that she and Albert avoided talking about Terry after their separation in New York. Some fans claim that Candy kept on talking about Terry at the Magnolia but that’s not true according to the CCFS which clearly mentions that Candy and Albert avoided talking about Terry at all costs. At some point Candy explains that she and Albert finally managed to talk a bit more naturally about Terry after many years when she became an adult and those memories weren’t as painful to her.
If Candy and Albert didn’t share romantic feelings for each other, that diary wouldn’t have caused such a massive awkwardness between them. I’m sure Candy wouldn’t have been pleased if she had read about Albert and that pretty American nurse he had worked with in Kenya. Nobody likes talking or hearing about ex relationships. Don’t forget that Terry would go bat-shit crazy whenever Candy mentioned Anthony and he was a deceased boy. It would be natural and logical for Albert to feel awkward about that diary and Candy’s firm decision in giving it back to him shows that she takes her relationship with Albert very seriously.
The issue lies whether Albert decided to take the plunge and further his ties with Candy. She definitely wanted to but the decision isn’t only hers and as the saying goes: “It takes two to tango.”
Hello @Avon, I couldn’t have said it better myself about Candy’s action of bringing the diary home. I like that she actually described Albert’s unease in her letter, letting him know she sensed his inner struggles and apparently not oblivious to the fact that she was the cause of it. This fact alone proves that he had romantic feelings for her and she knew it. Don’t forget they had just shared an emotional embrace in the enchanting forest. I could easily imagine how she cried on his chest, and he continued holding her tight in his arms, not saying anything until she was cried out. Candy later found out she had unintentionally ruined his fine shirt. I think the readers should not ignore this minor detail. He dressed up not only for Candy but also presented himself as WAA, not the vagabond.
You might be aware that some Terry fans had argued it was too painful for Candy to keep the diary, so she decided to give it back to Albert, which I wholeheartedly disagree. If Candy still had feelings for Terry, she could have just buried it or burnt it or whatever — she should never give it back to Albert.
Like you, I also think Candy as an adult was concerned about Albert’s reaction after reading her diary. Come to think of it, she might not have realized it until some time after her discovery of his true identity. She might have assumed Granduncle William had read it years ago while in fact it was Albert who read it not too long ago. By then Candy’s feelings for Albert had changed. She might not understand herself totally but she had made a trip to Rockstown for him after all.
Speaking of which, you’re absolutely right, @Avon, that we don’t know whether Albert had played Cupid behind the scene. Yet, in Candy’s letter to Miss Baker she did mention she had gone there to look for her friend (Albert). Hence, somehow, Candy was led to believe Albert was in Rockstown.
You might be right why Candy and Albert avoided talking about Terry but I was influenced by the manga. Candy did not want to talk about Terry because she didn’t want Albert to worry about her. Albert didn’t bring it up either because Terry’s news were all negative back then.
Yes, would Albert take the plunge after this? I bet Candy had the same question in mind too, and that’s why she couldn’t sleep that night but wished him good dreams nonetheless. Perhaps he hadn’t been sleeping well since that day trip, just like her? Just in case he didn’t get the hints from her letter, she signed it with love and gratitude. Let’s just ignore the gratitude part (which Terry fans had made a big fuss). The word “love” is a great deal. Candy essentially told Albert she was willing to commit or devote to him. Like what Nagita sensei said in that interview. It was a love with significant meaning. 💖💕
Exactly. When one signs a letter with the phrase “With Love”, there are intimate emotions conveyed and specifically intended for the recipient of this letter. This is not only indicative in the Eastern but also the Western civilizations. If Candy wanted to maintain an emotional distance, she would have written “With Regards” or “With Respect and Gratitude” or just “With Gratitude”.
That said, there’s no point trying to reason with some fans who are delusional and biased. They could see Candy and Albert having wild sex but still wail and cry that they’re only friends and nothing is going on. Lol
I would suggest we allow those last few remaining delusional fans to weep over their daffodils and keep re-reading Terry’s scrap note while the rest of us enjoy this additional translation of the CCFS which is faithful to the original Japanese text as the Italian and French translations are faithful to this text.
I completely agree with you, @Avon. What you said about signing a letter “with love” is so true. You might be aware that some Terry fans claimed that the word love, 愛, is reserved for families while 恋 is meant for lovers. They referred to the famous essay about Candy’s three loves, of course, because 恋 was used for her first two loves, Anthony and Terry. Well… they can’t be more wrong, lol. Both are Kanji derived from the Chinese words 愛 and 戀, and they meant the same — the former has a much broader and deeper meaning than the latter, which is reserved for romantic love. Literally, these two words can be translated to “love” and “romance”.
I meant to include this in my post but forgot. Yet, in the interview about Candy’s three loves, Nagita sensei used the word “love” 愛 for all three men. 💕
Yet, as you said, there’s no point arguing or reasoning with some of them. It’s a total waste of time if they stubbornly turn a blind eye. (ーー;)
The problem with some of those fans is not only their severe ignorance but also their blatant dishonesty as they disingenuously distort various aspects of the CCFS to fabricate their own narrative. It’s pathetic of them because they achieve nothing more than rendering themselves emetic pests which no one wants to interact with. If you take a brief look at what is going on online, most people avoid those hysterical fans as if they’re the plague. As for those who were unfortunate enough to engage with those morons, they immediately discontinue any further discussion with those deranged fans by trying to find some excuse to get rid of them. Lol
What’s worse about those deranged fans is that they will not shut up and they will go on and on and on like psychotic stalkers. Some of them remind me of that psychotic lonely woman the famous actress Glenn Close had starred in the famous 1980s movie called “Fatal Attraction” with Michael Douglas. I’m almost certain that these fans are so freaking delusional that they actually believe they’re winning an argument simply by refusing to shut their mouth. They fail to realize that all they achieve is making a complete jackass out of themselves. Fortunately, we’ve only got extremely few people like that at the university where I work and my colleagues and I avoid such raging lunatics at all costs.
It’s more than obvious that some of those fans aren’t pleased with the ending of the CCFS and they were hoping that the Spanish editorial team would give in to their silly demands. The fact that even this newest translation does not satisfy those fans’ perverse desires makes them even more deranged and desperate than they already are.
Sigh… You might not believe one of them actually quoted some history of the Chinese word “love”, trying to argue with me that it was used for family members only, like mother’s love or love for the parents. They were saying the culture was influenced by the Christian values from the missionaries blah blah blah…
Anyway, enough of that. Like you said, they just tried to win the argument. I didn’t even bother telling her that particular word belonged to the first generation of ancient words found thousands of years ago.
Nevertheless, the word is rarely used verbally, and even in letters it is hardly used directly. The fact that Candy wrote that in her letter is really significant. To me, it implies she was quite certain Albert loved her and she wanted him to know her feelings too.
Some of those pro-Terry fans are even more persistent and obsessive that Jehovah witnesses or televangelists.😂
Hahahahaha….
Thank you for including my comment on the Spanish CCFS, Ms Puddle. I hope certain aspects regarding the translation of Terry’s brief letter in Italian, French and Spanish have been clarified. I didn’t elaborate on the other differences in the Spanish translation because I didn’t find them significant. There was a minor error regarding Candy’s birthday in the Spanish novel but the Arechi Manga editorial team has announced that they’ve rectified that error by issuing a second edition. As for some other differences, they are slight and do not really change the meaning of the overall story in any way. However, the omission of the phrase “since then” or “since that..” in Terry’s brief letter is glaring. I wonder why the Spanish translators decided to adopt the French approach in this respect because both of those translations have omitted the aforesaid phrase. The Italian translation is much closer to the original Japanese text, at least when it comes to Terry’s brief letter. However, the Spanish and French translations have reduced the impact of Terry’s brief letter and, arguably, this was inadvertent.
You’re welcome, @Myra. I’m the one who should thank you for writing a long comment to compare the three translations of this famous letter from T.G.! 😉
About the omission, I can imagine how this upset some Terry fans even more. Yet, I wonder if this was indeed inadvertent… hmmm…
That’s not the only translation issue they got upset with. They’re also angry with the translators for providing a slightly different scene between Terry and Susanna after Candy left for the train station. In the Italian and French translations, Susanna hears Terry say “I’ll stay with you forever” but he whispered that phrase whilst looking out the window into the the snow. In the Spanish translation, however, Terry whispers that same phrase whilst his attention is directed towards Susanna. It’s a slight difference but as you probably already know, it doesn’t take much for the Terry fans to fly off the handle.😂
Aha… You know what, @Myra, I just double checked this particular passage in Susanna’s letter to Candy. Yes, Terry was staring at the snow outside the window while giving Susanna his promise in a low but clear voice. Strictly speaking, she was the recipient of his promise, and the way she wrote indicated the promise was directed to her — that is, he was talking to her despite staring outside the window.
Similar to the scene where Albert returned the diary to Candy. He murmured, staring at the window without looking at her, “For this… is your treasure.” We readers, including Candy herself, know that Albert was talking to her. Yet Candy did not write that specifically.
Not sure if you see the difference. But it’s of course a minor change. 😉
It’s an interesting similarity and thanks for pointing it out. Terry and Albert have a lot in common with regards to their mannerisms and this contributes to the reason why the readers are confused about the identity of anohito. Nagita gives them differences which makes each character distinct in his own right, however, she also gives those two male characters far too many similarities. They can both become sullen and distant as well as develop profound feelings for the people they care about. They are both really sensitive but also isolated and introvert. It’s not surprising that Terry and Albert had become good friends in the UK. It’s a pity their fans aren’t able to follow suit.
Yes, @Myra. Each man has his own flaws and charms. I like that Nagita sensei made Albert more human in the CCFS. We got to read more about his weaknesses and emotions.
Agreed. The CCFS does more justice to Albert’s character than the manga and anime. In the anime, Albert appears as a saint or guardian angel to Candy and because of the popularity of the anime, many fans are confused and consider Albert to be superhuman. He even fights with a lion.😂
In the manga, Albert appears more human-as you say-but due to the fact that the manga was targeted to a younger audience, the editors couldn’t include an adult relationship between Candy and Albert.
Some fans are saying that the novel is completely different to the manga and Nagita wants her readers to dispense with the manga but that’s not what she said. I’ve read the Preface in all the three translated novels so far and Nagita says the same thing which is that her novel is not perfect, it has many flaws and it’s incomplete but at least she’s free from the confines of the anime and manga editors. The story in itself is practically the same but Nagita simply managed to insert a few bits and pieces in the narrative which she couldn’t normally do in the anime or manga. There’s also the continuation of Candy’s life in her adulthood but very little is said about that, hence, all the controversy going on about who her husband is, etc.
Yes, @Myra, about the lion scene, in the manga Albert defended Candy from its claws, not fighting with it lol. The manga, as you said, was targeted to young girls, so the rule of thumb is the heroine would not be older than 17. Yet Nagita sensei chose a way out by elaborating Candy and Albert’s relationship in the old CC novel.
Myra, you used the word “husband”, so did Nagita sensei mention anything about marriage in the preface? Just curious. 😉 I still think that inheriting an expensive family heirloom is a strong hint that Candy was married, but I know people don’t necessarily agree with me. 😅
Hi, Ms Puddle!
Hope you’re doing fine amidst all the chaos going on with COVID-19 and the riots in the US. 2020 appears to be one hell of an eventful year.
Surprisingly so, my book got delivered fairly quickly. Got to read it in one go and it’s more or less like the other translations. I agree with @Myra and @Anita that the Spanish translation is somewhat verbose. Tbh, I don’t know what the hype was all about. I guess the editor wanted to market this translation as being something entirely different but it’s not. It’s the same story but in Spanish. That’s all. I got to brush up a bit on my Spanish though and luckily the level of Spanish in this book is very easy. If your Spanish is average or moderate, this book will not be difficult to read at all.
I’ll add a slight difference in this Spanish book which is Candy’s letter to Terry. She doesn’t use the word “apricot” but “bittersweet fruit” when describing her feelings for Terry during her adolescence in the UK.
If you had watched the Q&A vid on YT, the translators explained that they decided to do a “creative translation” in some of the parts of the novel. Whatever that’s supposed to mean..
Hi @Jesse there were protests in Downtown Vancouver as well but I don’t live near there. Thanks for asking, and indeed it’s been quite an eventual year so far, not in a good sense though. 🙁
So glad to hear quite a handful of you have received your copies and even finished reading. It’s always great to know a few languages!
Very interesting about the change from “apricot” to “bittersweet fruit”! Creative translation? Well… I’m fine with this change, because so far nobody knows for sure why Candy used “apricot” to describe her feelings lol 😀
Hi, Ms Puddle!
Good to know that you’re at a safe distance from all those riots going on lately. Seems like social distancing has gone awry for a few folks.
Perhaps by “creative translation” they meant appropriating the text which is more familiar to Spanish-speaking readers. The symbolic meaning of the word “apricot” may not be too familiar as the cliche’ “bittersweet fruit”.
Thank you @Jesse. About “bittersweet fruit”, it’s actually a very good choice. To Candy, her memories of Terry were bittersweet to say the least.
Really enjoyed reading your new post, Ms Puddle. After all that brouhaha going on in the CC community regarding this Spanish version of the CCFS, it’s good to know that the translators did a professional job and kept to the original text without bending a knee to some hysterical fans.
There’s also another change in this Spanish version worth noting. When Candy leaves the boarding school of St Paul’s, she doesn’t say that she’s heading back to America in order to find Terry but to find her own path in life. Some fans, apparently, don’t like this new touch but I think it’s cool because it makes Candy appear less desperate. She seems to be more independent rather than being Terry’s lapdog chasing after him and begging for his approval.
Do you remember how this specific scene is written in the original Japanese text?
Thank you @DanielleV for your encouraging words! Yes, what a relief to know that the translators were professionals after all and not influenced by some crazy people.
About Candy’s departure, did you mean her last diary entry? I vaguely remember something like she would find her path in life, just like Terry. Let me double check and get back to you on this. 🙂
Thank you for getting back to me, Ms Puddle. By Candy’s departure, I meant her last diary entry. I really like this version because Candy appears to be less desperate over Terry and more focused on following her own path in life.
Hi @DanielleV, I double checked Candy’s last diary entry just before she expressed how much she loved Terry… back then 😉
Candy explained why she was thinking of leaving St. Paul’s Academy. I think you’re right. In short, Candy thought “this is not the place I find my path. I have a promising future if I stay, but I know I’m not happy (it’s not my happiness). I want to find my own way to live. Who taught me this? It’s you. Thank you, T.G.!”
Hope this helps! 🙂
Good AM from here, MP!
Great insight to read for the day. Love it.
By the way, did Mizuki explain in CCFS how Candy knew Albert was the patient since the author rewrote that Pouppe had died sometime ( in Kenya? ) before Albert encountered an explosion in Italy? We all know that she was led to believe it was Albert lying on the stretcher because Pouppe ran after the nurses that carrying Albert into ER. Now that the author had killed off Albert’s furry companion, how does Candy exactly know that it was her mystery friend that confined in Room 0? Wish someone publish in English already, so I can read the whole thing lol
Hope everything goes well in your area, my dear. I heard some have joined the protests after GF’s horrific death. Lately the retail stores have been closing early ( sometimes 6pm, or 5 or even 3! ) since that riot started. I feel bad for other employees that go to work at noon time and are asked to go home for their safety, as well as the safety of the guests. Keep yourself safe!
Laters! 😷😷
Hi @albertlovescandy, good question. If I remember correctly it isn’t clear in CCFS how Candy recognized Albert the amnesiac patient without Pouppe.
For your interest, you can check Fay’s translation of CCFS based on the Spanish fan translations. The links are posted on my page http://mspuddleshaven.com/unofficial-translations-of-ccfs/
My company has decided to keep us home for now, so I’m working from home still at least for a couple more weeks. Yes I heard about the protests and riots after GF’s violent death (which was terrible and unfortunate). You take good care of yourself too!
It’s just a theory but maybe it was implied in the novel that Candy didn’t need Pouppe as a guide to recognize Albert because his appearance had left an indelible impression on her. Even in London, Candy managed to recognize Albert by the tone of his voice. Yet, she couldn’t figure out that Albert was POTH because she was only 6 years old back then and he was a lanky teen.
Albert’s voice always excited and fascinated Candy. She found it odd how his elegant and gentle voice never matched his vagabond appearance. Albert tried to hide his posh background but in vain.😉
This reminds me of their reunion in London, @Michelle. I wonder if the Spanish version or the other two translations mentioned Albert’s lips? Without the beard Candy noticed his lips not matching his vagabond appearance.
That detail isn’t mentioned in any of the translations. Is it in the original Japanese? It’s odd that this has been omitted.
By the way, I’ve wanted to ask you about anohito’s voice and how it’s translated verbatim because in the Italian it’s “gentle voice” but in the French and Spanish it’s “sweet voice”. Either way, both gentle and sweet are adjectives Candy uses to describe Albert’s voice.
I’m surprised too, @Michelle, that this particular detail is omitted. The sentence, after mentioning his safari shirt and dirty working pants, can be translated to “his tender looking lips not matching his appearance”. The word for lips can also mean mouth or shape of the mouth.
Candy used the adjective 優しい(やさしい) for his mouth or lips, the same adjective used for Anohito’s voice. It has many meanings, depending on context, and “gentle and sweet” are both correct. “Tender” and “kind” are also common choices too.
FYI, this page gives you a long list of English words and examples of how this adjective can be used:
https://eigodekore.com/kind/
Thank you, Ms Puddle, for the information. 👍👍
You’re welcome, @Michelle. Hope it helps 😊
It’s interesting that the Spanish translation of the CCFS has more similarities with the French than with the Italian translation. Even though the Italian translation isn’t the best, it appears to be the closest to the original Japanese novel.
Not necessarily, @Sarah. In my Lost in translation series I’ve pointed out a passage in the Italian version that was misleading. Also, I was told the letters between Candy and Albert were relatively cold in the Italian version? I can at least say that their feelings for each other are palpable in their writings 💌 in the original Japanese version.
It’s definitely an advantage to know a few languages and be able to discern the various differences whether they’re linguistic, cultural or a combination of those two. Nonetheless, the essence of this novel remains the same in all three languages translated so far even though some desperate fans had been trying to get the Spanish editor to make structural changes to this novel by placing Terry’s letter after the Epilogue-if not removing it entirely.😂
It’s obvious that even the most die-hard fans have come to realize and eventually accept that Keiko Nagita has given Terry and Albert an equal chance to be this so-called ano hito. A mere handful of them continue to post random nonsensical rants on social media but their impact keeps on waning irreversibly as all they achieve is making a complete fool of themselves.
Thank you for posting another very interesting analysis of this novel and I’m looking forward to more of your amazing artwork.
Hi @Lynn, honestly I was rendered speechless when I first heard about Terry fans’ requests of restructuring the novel. They were either too naive or pretending not to know that their requests were ridiculous.
Yes, Anohito has remained mysterious even in the Spanish version, but you know I doubt that Terry and Albert had equal chance. Or I should say that the likelihood that Terry would reunite with Candy is low. 😉
Thank you for your continued support, and yes I am planning to ‘pick up my brush’ again. 🙂
I’m not kidding you, Ms Puddle. Some of those fans are actually pleading with the Arechi Manga folk to re-issue another novel where the Epilogue is removed and Terry marries Candy. It’s hilarious but I doubt that the editors and translators of Arechi Manga will pay heed to any of their ridiculous pleas. They’re a serious enterprise and they wouldn’t jeopardize their reputation for a small albeit very loud bunch of whiny Terry-enthusiasts. Maybe they’ll issue a fanfic as consolation for those fans and appease their nerves a bit.😉
I highly doubt Arechi Manga will publish any fanfic just to appease them, @Lynn. LOL… (^o^)
Thank you for sharing another insightful article with us @Ms Puddle!
I am pleased to have read that the Spanish translation of the CCFS has remained faithful to the original novel as published back in 2010. Having read the Spanish translation of the novel myself, it virtually has no differences from the Italian and French translations.
However, I found it odd that the sentence in Terry’s letter “It’s been a year since then..” was truncated to “It’s been a year.”. I agree with you that the meaning is reduced and this letter becomes even more vague and less personal.
As for Candy and Albert’s relationship, no one can doubt that it was developing into a romantic one. Even the editors and translators of the novel make that clear. Furthermore, Keiko Nagita had also explained that she had placed the letters between Candy and Albert at the end of the novel so as to attain greater impact.
At the end of the day, what matters is what the experts working on this novel and the author herself have to say about this novel and not a few fans who are in denial.
Thank you @Anita! I’m relieved to have learned from you and others that the Spanish version has remained faithful to the original novel.
About Terry’s brief letter, I agree. This change makes it even less personal, and I wonder why both French and Spanish translators have decided to do that.
About Candy’s relationship with Albert, most sensible readers could see that they had romantic feelings for each other. In their writings they were no longer just friends. The fact Candy was so bold to demand Albert’s day off to celebrate her birthday with her was already a solid proof to me.
In the old CC novel, all their letters were grouped in the very last chapter as well, but in CCFS, instead of a chapter they were placed in the Epilogue. As you said, some people are in denial. Or perhaps they are unable to comprehend? 😉
Those fans have far too many personal problems of their own and I haven’t got either the time or the interest to know the story behind their issues.
Those fans hysterically argue that there’s no textual evidence showing that Candy and Albert have romantic feelings for each other. Well, in that same “logic” we can also say that there’s no textual evidence showing that Candy and Terry ever got back together after their separation in New York.
Actually, the textual evidence shows that Candy didn’t want to be with Terry anymore and in her unsent letter to him she said that she loved him once, hence, referring to the past and not the present.
Furthermore, there’s no textual evidence confirming that Terry’s brief letter to Candy had any romantic significance because there is not a single word in that letter which suggests that in the slightest.
There is also no textual evidence confirming that Terry’s letter was written after Susanna’s death as there is no date or background information regarding that dubious letter.
If those hysterical fans fail to see the obvious attraction developing between Candy and Albert, then we all have the legitimate right to dispute their ludicrous claims of a Candy-Terry reunion since there is zero evidence from the text to support this.
End of story.
Well said, @Anita. They always apply a double standard whenever they want to support their claim that Terry would no doubt reunite with Candy after Susanna’s death.
Proof is lacking, as you have already pointed out, and having zero textual reference in CCFS itself, their arguments heavily rely on substantially creative imagination and/or groundless assumptions.
For example, Candy had been waiting for Terry for years, just to get him back. If this is not ridiculous enough, the other assumption is that Terry would reconcile with the Duke and/or his stepmother, with help from Candy. There are more, lol. In short, they have provided absolutely nothing beyond mere wishful thinking.
It’s funny that in that interview decades ago Nagita sensei already said “I’ll leave it to you to imagine it (their reunion).” 😀
Nagita repeated that same phrase “I’ll leave it to your imagination” in her recent interviews as well. Imagination isn’t textual evidence though. The author has decided to keep the ending open to interpretation. Why has she done this? Nobody knows apart from her.
This latest post of yours is truly impressive, Ms Puddle. Your contributors have also done a fine job in comparing the various available translations of Terry’s brief letter to Candy.
It’s ironic that some Terry-fans are so frantically clinging onto a mere note but they do their utmost to ignore the significance of the Epilogue which, in reality, constitutes a chapter in its own right. Those fans keep on contradicting themselves and proving, yet again, how groundless their outlandish claims actually are.
They try to downplay the brewing romance developing between Candy and Albert in the Epilogue by saying that it’s just innocent chatting between a brother and sister or between friends. If that’s the case, I sincerely hope that those delusional fans stumble upon text messages or phone-calls or email messages exchanged between their “significant other” and another woman, especially a young and attractive woman as Candy. Let’s see if they’ll continue to dismiss such correspondence as mere friendship or brotherly/sisterly love.😉
Hahaha… good point, @Sarah! I wonder how these people would have reacted if they had found their significant others texting long messages to attractive young ladies like Candy. But then again, I won’t be surprised these people have double standard. 😉
Thank you and I’m glad you’ve enjoyed my post, @Sarah. It’s my honour indeed to have received many brilliant comments, and a few of them happened to support what I was planning to write. 🙂
No matter how much those fans try to adulterate arguments to their own advantage, most people are way more intelligent than them and call out their bluff. Ever since the Spanish translation has become accessible to consumers and it has been confirmed that this translation is no different from the previous Italian and French ones, the Terry-fans have gone full panic-mode and lashing out at everyone who disagrees with them online. Those fans are just petty little keyboard warriors begging for attention and clout.