11-27-2009, 03:14 AM | #1 |
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Which version of Les Miserables is best for Kindle?
I've finally decided to give Victor Hugo's much-acclaimed Les Miserables a try... but the sheer number of available versions (even in the Kindle Store) is bewildering.
I've read in a review that the best paperback version is the "Signet Classics" one. Which would be the best version for Kindle? |
11-27-2009, 10:39 AM | #2 |
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Download a few samples (to K4PC) and look at their formatting before buying. I have had good experience with "Signet Classic" versions from Amazon.
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11-27-2009, 01:41 PM | #3 |
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11-27-2009, 01:44 PM | #4 | |
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11-30-2009, 07:36 PM | #5 |
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Well, I did look at that option... but how does it compare to the Signet Classics version?
I've heard of cases where foreign books released to the public domain contain translation errors, or a generally poor level of translation. One good example of this would be "The Histories" by Herodotus, where "The Landmark" version is far and away superior to the public domain version. |
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06-11-2011, 08:29 PM | #6 |
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Does anyone have the mobi version of Strassler's The Landmark Herodotus?
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10-15-2011, 12:40 AM | #7 |
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contemplating this book for my next read, any other opinions after 2 years?
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02-05-2013, 04:12 AM | #8 |
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02-05-2013, 08:24 AM | #9 |
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You really need to consider which translation of Les Misérables to opt for (assuming you plan to read it in English).
The Hapgood translation is the one that was used for Project Guthenberg, and which therefore is probably the one you'll find in most public domain versions (including the one here in the MobileRead library). But there are a couple of more recent translations that you might find easier to read. These are by Norman Denny and Julie Rose respectively. Since both of these translations are recent, they will still be in copyright, so you will have to pay the going rate for the e-books. The Signet Classic is based on the original American translation (by Charles Wilbur), but has been modernised. (Source for all the above.) In short, your best bet would be to download samples of each, and to decide which translation you prefer, and which version has the fewest errors and the best formatting. One other thing to keep in mind is whether you prefer to read an American or a British translation. In theory, it shouldn't matter - they are both equally valid. But many people think otherwise. Please let us know which one you finally decide on. Mike |
02-05-2013, 01:40 PM | #10 |
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I was investigating this same question a few weeks ago. Although the Fahnestock and MacAfee translation (Signet Classic) seems to be the most commonly recommended, it isn't available as an ebook. However, I found the Hapgood translation quite readable. Although there are many free ebook versions of Hapgood's translation out there, I ended up buying the one from Carefully Crafted Classics. I downloaded the sample from Amazon, and I was pleased by the fact that it restored the italics that are missing in the versions from PG and other free sources and that it expanded the first-letter-dash that Hugo used to the actual proper nouns: "Bishop of Digne" instead of "Bishop of D——" for example. I find it less distracting, a personal preference that made it worth the $2.99 for me.
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02-05-2013, 01:56 PM | #11 |
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I am just finishing reading this version:
http://www.amazon.com/Mis%C3%A9rable.../dp/B00AEZT4YO It's not free, but $2.99 is not much - and it's a long book. It's also Hapgood. It's illustrated, pleasantly. X-ray enabled (but not much there). I found no typos or formatting problems. EDIT: opsie, I should have read the whole thread. My recommendation is the same as the one above, by ElspethB |
02-06-2013, 03:54 PM | #12 |
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The Julie Rose translation is not available in US Kindle Store. Wilbour and Denny are, but priced $12.99 or so. The rest are most likely Hapgood. I got the Audiobook based on Rose and plan to follow along with what I assume is Hapgood, which could be interesting.
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02-06-2013, 04:07 PM | #13 |
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02-06-2013, 10:59 PM | #14 |
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Denny is $2.99 tomsen. Look for movie tie-in edition.
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02-07-2013, 09:35 AM | #15 |
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Be aware, though, that the Denny translation is not as faithful as most of the others. Although not advertised as an abridgement, Denny took it upon himself to excise what he refers to as "passages of mediocrity and banality." He also moved two sections from the narrative and stuck them in an appendix.
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