How would you interpret ‘dreaming west’ in The Phoenix on the Sword?”
Hi everyone,
I’m working on a Spanish translation of Robert E. Howard’s Conan stories and trying to stay as faithful as possible to both the meaning and tone of the original text. I’m also preparing a series of comparative articles looking at previous Spanish translations, which in some cases have been less accurate or contain notable errors.
This passage comes from the opening of “The Phoenix on the Sword”:
>...Aquilonia, reigning supreme in the dreaming west.
I’m particularly curious about the phrase “dreaming west”. I have some ideas about what it might imply, but I would really appreciate native speakers’ interpretations.
Does this expression carry a positive connotation for you?
How would you paraphrase it in your own words?
And are there any synonyms or similar expressions that you feel would capture its meaning or tone?
Any insight would be greatly appreciated, especially from fans familiar with Howard’s writing style.
Thank you very much!