Quote:
Originally Posted by drofgnal
The Signet is an easier read, but if you want to learn about the culture, and the biographical information of the main real characters and some of the military history of the wars, then read the aforementioned version. The footnotes are very detailed, in one instance down to the level of describing that a particular communique dispatched prior to a battle was indeed the actual sent communique. It's a great read in either version, but reading the aforementioned version was an eye opener for me, and that was the third time I read it.
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I wonder though, if you're reading a novel like this for pleasure, if you aren't better off reading the 'easier' Signet version. Then, once you are familiar with the book, you could go through the more elaborately footnoted version.
What is great for the dedicated fan might just be a distraction for the new reader.
My better half and I are reading the
Penguin edition of Treasure Island. She decided to read through the introduction while I dove into the story. She said the introduction spoils the book by going through the entire story and telling what happens at the end. Granted, it's a +130 year old book. But perhaps the introduction (which was clearly aimed at the dedicated fan) would have worked better as an afterword. It didn't help these new readers.