The Dissemination and Reception of the English Translation of Wolf Totem in the United States

Abstract

This study adopts quantitative and empirical methods, focusing on the English translation of Jiang Rong’s novel Wolf Totem translated by Howard Goldblatt, to explore its dissemination and reception in the United States. By analyzing data from the World Cat, as well as reader ratings and reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, it reveals that Wolf Totem has achieved widespread circulation and favorable acceptance among American readers, with particular attention drawn to its ecological themes and the cultural symbolism of the wolf. These findings provide valuable reference for contemporary Chinese literary works to more effectively reach a global audience and further achieve the transition from merely “going out” to “reaching in”.