Legal US source for Robin Buss translation of The Count of Monte Cristo?

twowheels · 12-22-2011, 01:14 PM

I can't find a US source for an e-book edition of the Robin Buss translation of The Count of Monte Cristo. Does anybody know where I might find one for sale? Are there no US distribution rights for this? I purchased a paper copy for my daughter last year, but I don't want to carry around a 3" thick paperback to read it myself.

Edit: Preferably in a format that'll work with my Kindle.

MovieBird · 12-22-2011, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twowheels

I can't find a US source for an e-book edition of the Robin Buss translation of The Count of Monte Cristo. Does anybody know where I might find one for sale? Are there no US distribution rights for this? I purchased a paper copy for my daughter last year, but I don't want to carry around a 3" thick paperback to read it myself.

Edit: Preferably in a format that'll work with my Kindle.

?

It's on Amazon. ASIN: B002RI9KL8

I've had it on my Amazon wishlist since it came out, as I've yet to see it anywhere other than Amazon; and I only buy epub.

twowheels · 12-22-2011, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MovieBird

?

It's on Amazon. ASIN: B002RI9KL8

I've had it on my Amazon wishlist since it came out, as I've yet to see it anywhere other than Amazon; and I only buy epub.

Oh... looking closer, it looks like you're right. I was under the impression that this was the Victorian era translation w/ an introduction by her. I just looked at the sample, and it appears that this IS the full translation -- for only 99 cents too!

Thanks for setting me straight! :-)

(as I compare the Amazon sample and the PG version, I'm actually no longer convinced that the modern translation is preferable... hrm... anybody have an opinion on this matter?)

HarryT · 12-22-2011, 02:33 PM

I far prefer the language of the anonymous 1843 translation myself - I find the modern language of the Buss translation anomalous in a historical novel. However, that tranlation was of course censored for its Victorian British audience; the original could never have been published in prurient Victorian England.

Why not buy the Buss version and download my Mobi version of the 1843 text from the MR library? That way you'll have both.

twowheels · 12-22-2011, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Why not buy the Buss version and download my Mobi version of the 1843 text from the MR library? That way you'll have both.

Sure, but there are far too many good books to read in my lifetime to spend time reading 1200 pages of the same book twice. :-)

HarryT · 12-22-2011, 02:43 PM

I'm not suggesting that you read the whole of both, but if you have both you can read the first couple of chapters and see which you prefer.

twowheels · 12-22-2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

However, that tranlation was of course censored for its Victorian British audience; the original could never have been published in prurient Victorian England.

BTW, I've heard this claim before. How much was it censored? Does it change the story much? Is the original meaning still alluded to via euphemism, or completely gone? Would that be enough to push a reader over? I agree that the older translation has that classic book feel, which is what was starting to make me question my decision to read the newer.

HarryT · 12-22-2011, 03:32 PM

No, the story's the same; it was sex scenes that have gone. In particular, one of the characters in the book, Eugenie, is a lesbian; that had to go for publication in Victorian England.

Sweetpea · 12-23-2011, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twowheels

Sure, but there are far too many good books to read in my lifetime to spend time reading 1200 pages of the same book twice. :-)

I bought the Buss translation. I thought it was good, but I still missed something (I generally read the Count's story once a year). And that is in the use of the language.

Quote:

At once (as was also customary) the terrace of Fort Saint-Jean was thronged with onlookers, because the arrival of a ship is always a great event in Marseille, particularly when the vessel, like the Pharaon, has been built, fitted out and laded in the shipyards of the old port and belongs to an owner from the town.

vs

Quote:

Immediately, and according to custom, the ramparts of Fort Saint-Jean were covered with spectators; it is always an event at Marseilles for a ship to come into port, especially when this ship, like the Pharaon, has been built, rigged, and laden at the old Phocee docks, and belongs to an owner of the city.

While the old translation might be a bit harder to read, I got into the story better with it.

Don't know where I got my other book from so I've no idea what version it is, maybe I should compare it with the one Harry mentioned...

Sweetpea · 12-23-2011, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, the story's the same; it was sex scenes that have gone. In particular, one of the characters in the book, Eugenie, is a lesbian; that had to go for publication in Victorian England.

When you say, "that had to go", does that mean that Mademoiselle d'Armilly is never mentioned? Or that they won't be found in the same bed after they ran away?

I wonder if I ever read anything but the "whole" book...

HarryT · 12-23-2011, 02:33 AM

Yours is the anonymous 1846 translation. Almost all English editions use this text. Penguin Classics commissioned the new translation in the 1990s.

HarryT · 12-23-2011, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

When you say, "that had to go", does that mean that Mademoiselle d'Armilly is never mentioned? Or that they won't be found in the same bed after they ran away?

I wonder if I ever read anything but the "whole" book...

She's certainly in the book. The only version I've read is the censored text, do I don't actually know in detail what isn't there

.

Sweetpea · 12-23-2011, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yours is the anonymous 1846 translation. Almost all English editions use this text. Penguin Classics commissioned the new translation in the 1990s.

Yes but I didn't notice any difference in content (only in the use words) from the Buss translation and my anonymous translation...

Naturally, I could learn French (in my next lifetime, maybe) and read the original

ghostyjack · 12-23-2011, 09:25 AM

I don't suppose anyone knows if there is a translation that is uncensored, but is more in keeping with the style of the original text then?

twowheels · 12-27-2011, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

While the old translation might be a bit harder to read, I got into the story better with it.

Funny thing is, I actually find the older version easier to read in this particular example.

12-22-2011, 01:14 PM	#1
twowheels Wizard Posts: 1,853 Karma: 13432974 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kobo Clara HD, iPad Pro 10", iPhone 15 Pro, Boox Note Max	Legal US source for Robin Buss translation of The Count of Monte Cristo? I can't find a US source for an e-book edition of the Robin Buss translation of The Count of Monte Cristo. Does anybody know where I might find one for sale? Are there no US distribution rights for this? I purchased a paper copy for my daughter last year, but I don't want to carry around a 3" thick paperback to read it myself. Edit: Preferably in a format that'll work with my Kindle. Last edited by twowheels; 12-22-2011 at 01:18 PM.

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12-22-2011, 02:33 PM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I far prefer the language of the anonymous 1843 translation myself - I find the modern language of the Buss translation anomalous in a historical novel. However, that tranlation was of course censored for its Victorian British audience; the original could never have been published in prurient Victorian England. Why not buy the Buss version and download my Mobi version of the 1843 text from the MR library? That way you'll have both.

12-22-2011, 02:43 PM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'm not suggesting that you read the whole of both, but if you have both you can read the first couple of chapters and see which you prefer.

12-22-2011, 03:32 PM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	No, the story's the same; it was sex scenes that have gone. In particular, one of the characters in the book, Eugenie, is a lesbian; that had to go for publication in Victorian England.

12-23-2011, 02:33 AM	#11
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Yours is the anonymous 1846 translation. Almost all English editions use this text. Penguin Classics commissioned the new translation in the 1990s.

12-23-2011, 09:25 AM	#14
ghostyjack Guru Posts: 718 Karma: 1085610 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol, England Device: PRS-T1, 1825PT, Galaxy Tab, One X, TF700T, Aura HD, Nexus 7	I don't suppose anyone knows if there is a translation that is uncensored, but is more in keeping with the style of the original text then?

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