New Translations of Classics

[seanyyz]

For some classic novels like War and Punishment and the Brothers Karamazov, when I look at the version that I am told is the best translation, or more to the point the translation that I want, kindle sometimes does a bait and switch and seems to sell you a different translation for a kindle version of a particular translation.

For example they seem to be sneaking in the Garnet translation (which I do not want) as the kindle version of the Pevear translation of War and Peace.

In this instance, it is just a matter that I have found the Pevear versions more accessible and I have read that scholars think they are better translations. In fact, some of readers of Garnet's translations say she just leaves parts out if she found translation of them difficult,

Anyone notice this? Comments?

I am sure this will be a hot topic of discussion on this page

[pdurrant]

I'm sure it's not deliberate. It's just poor metadata and poor matching in Amazon's algorithms.

[jhowell]

If whoever published it misrepresented the book it would be their fault not Amazon's.

You can always leave a bad review. There is also a way to report quality problems. Enough of those and Amazon will take down the book.

[ekbell]

I have also noticed mismatches between the paper versions and kindle versions of books with multiple translations/versions. Sometimes it's pretty silly; look up Dante's Paradise translated by Anthony Esolen and published by Modern Library on Amazon.ca, switch to the kindle copy and see an obviously badly put together 'let's not even bother bother with a proper cover' edition published by 'Classics Publishing' translated by someone completely different (the look inside gives a different translator then the description does) despite the fact that an ebook version of Esolen's translation published by Modern Library actually exists (albeit with an erroneous product description). The reviews of the different editions appear to be all confused as well (making the bad review option problematical).

Checking previews or look inside is essential.

[gilster]

Originally Posted by ekbell

I have also noticed mismatches between the paper versions and kindle versions of books with multiple translations/versions. Sometimes it's pretty silly; look up Dante's Paradise translated by Anthony Esolen and published by Modern Library on Amazon.ca, switch to the kindle copy and see an obviously badly put together 'let's not even bother bother with a proper cover' edition published by 'Classics Publishing' translated by someone completely different (the look inside gives a different translator then the description does) despite the fact that an ebook version of Esolen's translation published by Modern Library actually exists (albeit with an erroneous product description). The reviews of the different editions appear to be all confused as well (making the bad review option problematical).

Checking previews or look inside is essential.

I couldn't agree more. I often buy Penguin editions, for example, but quite often I'll find the book and opt for the Kindle version, only to find the cheap substitute. So yes, Amazon needs to do a far better job of identifying just what version the Kindle book represents. You can find this if you scroll down to the publishing information, but it took me a while to make that a routine part of my purchases.

Paul

[jenieliser]

I got frustrated with the same issue. What I do now is find the desired translation on goodreads.com, copy the isbn and then search for that, with "kindle store" selected in the search criteria drop down menu. This is has helped, but still frustrating for quick searches.

[montalex]

I think that the older translations, for example, Constance Garnett's Russians, are public domain. Not true of more recent translations. So, yes, Amazon makes more selling the old stuff. But usually, they offer them at very low prices.

[montalex]

I just checked Amazon for War and Peace. The Kindle edition translator (Garnett) is clearly marked. It's sold for less than $1. I don't think anyone is trying to trick you.

[tomsem]

The problem is Amazon aggregates reviews from different translations as if they referred to the same book.

The book description itself should be accurate but may not always tell you who did the translation. ‘Look inside’ should let you see title pages, or download samples to review them before purchase.

The Pervear+Volokhonsky translations (of Russian literature) are well regarded by most. Of course, since they are still alive and expect to get paid for their work, one pays more for them than for translations in the public domain.

Speaking of War and Peace in particular, about 2% of it is in French (reflecting speech of educated Russians at the time). Some translations replace the French with English translations, some do so partially (Garnett) and some retain the original French (Pervear/Volokhonsky provides English translations as footnotes). Some revisions of translations which did not preserve original French restore it.

I suppose we should be happy to have so many choices, but it can be a bit confusing, even without taking into consideration the potential for typos and inferior digital formatting.

[Lady Stardust]

If you get the translation that you did not want, you can always return the book. Amazon's policy in returning books is best among the ebooksellers that I know of.

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by seanyyz

For some classic novels like War and [Peace] and the Brothers Karamazov, when I look at the version that I am told is the best translation, or more to the point the translation that I want, kindle sometimes does a bait and switch and seems to sell you a different translation for a kindle version of a particular translation.

Re War and Peace, it is in Mobileread's Patricia Clark Memorial Library, and the French passages have translated footnotes:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=10836

Re the translators:

Tolstoy believed that "Better translators, both for knowledge of the two languages and for penetration into the very meaning of the matter translated, could not be invented."

Use Calibre to convert to ePUB or mobi/Amazon.

EDITED: My Tolstoy quote link has an notation that it is unsourced, but this seems to show the quotation is legit.