The best translated Book you've ever read

Greg Anos · 10-10-2010, 10:05 PM

As Harry T has pointed out in the classic thread, reading a translated book may not match up with the original book in the original language.

So, what is the best translated books you;ve ever read?

(To me, it's like the best Classic work thread, too many great works, each do different that I can't judge between them. Hopefully you can...)

ATDrake · 10-10-2010, 10:50 PM

Astérix, from French to UK English (they did some specific US translations awhile ago, but those were boring and sucked).

The Astérix albums are very pun and cultural reference-heavy, and translators Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge did a brilliant job finding British equivalents that were often just as funny and fitting, if not more so.

For more "literary" works, I'd have to say various translations from the Oulipo movement, simply because of sheer technical difficulty on top of the usual one-language-to-another issues.

Especially that book which was written without using the letter E, which the translators have apparently taken it upon themselves to try and replicate said feat in their own languages. One day I shall have to try collecting their efforts, whether or not I can actually read them.

As for Oulipo translations I've actually read and can compare to the originals, I myself own two different illustrated versions of Exercices de Style, and have read both the very nicely adapted English translation, and also the excellent graphic novel homage, from the library.

Fbone · 10-10-2010, 11:01 PM

Are you asking for books where we read both original and translated editions?

Stitchawl · 10-10-2010, 11:04 PM

"Tao Te Ching" by Lao Tzu
Translated into German by Richard Wilhelm then into English by Cary F. Baynes.

Having read more than 15 different translations of this work, the Wilhelm/Baynes translation is far and away my favorite. They did a fantastic job of the 'I Ching' as well, perhaps the most readable translation, but not as accurate as some others.

Stitchawl

GA Russell · 10-10-2010, 11:14 PM

I read the Bantam edition of The Count of Monte Cristo and enjoyed it very much.

I never felt like I was missing out because I was not reading it in its original language, although I would be happy to believe anyone who has read them both who told me that the original was better..

Sweetpea · 10-11-2010, 01:56 AM

I only read translations of books where I can't read the original language. Which means I can't say which translation I find best (nothing to compare it to...)

Toxaris · 10-11-2010, 04:07 AM

There are many good translations. A translation is always difficult, because language is more than just a grouping of words. Some words have special meaning for which there is no substitute. That is why I prefer to read the original language, if I can (are you hearing me, US and UK publishers!).

Having said that, I think there are a number of good translations to dutch.
- Asterix (never would have thought of that without ATDrake, thanks!)
- Lord of the Rings (actually both translations, the official and unoffical)
- Wheel of Time

There are more, but I tend to read English as much as I can.

HarryT · 10-11-2010, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GA Russell

I read the Bantam edition of The Count of Monte Cristo and enjoyed it very much.

I never felt like I was missing out because I was not reading it in its original language, although I would be happy to believe anyone who has read them both who told me that the original was better..

"The Count of Monte Cristo" is an interesting case. Nearly all English editions are based on the anonymous 1846 translation commissioned by the original English publishers, Chapman and Hall. This omitted some material from the original, which could not have been published in England at the time, due to Victorian English mores - particularly material related to one of the characters in the book (Eugénie) being a lesbian. This is still the version of the text that you'll find in pretty much all English-language editions, including the "Oxford World Library" edition (and the version available here at MR, of course).

In 1996, Penguin Classics commissioned a new translation by Robin Buss which is faithful to the original, although it's written in "modern" language which I personally find to be at odds with the historical setting.

Regardless of omissions from the original text, though, the Chapman and Hall translation is one of the my favourite adventure stories; it's a cracking good read.

murraypaul · 10-11-2010, 04:23 AM

Best translated book I've read would probably be the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Best translation of a book that I've read would be Fagles' Iliad, it really highlights the difference a translator can make.

dreams · 10-11-2010, 04:30 AM

Since this thread is talking about translation, there was a post on forum just recently linking to an article about this.

Michael Cunningham on reading and writing, and translating

Quote:

— I’ve come to understand that all literature is a product of translation.

Quote:

Language in fiction is made up of equal parts meaning and music. The sentences should have rhythm and cadence, they should engage and delight the inner ear. Ideally, a sentence read aloud, in a foreign language, should still sound like something, even if the listener has no idea what it is he or she is being told.

It was very interesting and brought up points I had never considered when thinking about good translations.

Sweetpea · 10-11-2010, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

"The Count of Monte Cristo" is an interesting case. Nearly all English editions are based on the anonymous 1846 translation commissioned by the original English publishers, Chapman and Hall. This omitted some material from the original, which could not have been published in England at the time, due to Victorian English mores - particularly material related to one of the characters in the book (Eugénie) being a lesbian. This is still the version of the text that you'll find in pretty much all English-language editions, including the "Oxford World Library" edition (and the version available here at MR, of course).

In 1996, Penguin Classics commissioned a new translation by Robin Buss which is faithful to the original, although it's written in "modern" language which I personally find to be at odds with the historical setting.

Regardless of omissions from the original text, though, the Chapman and Hall translation is one of the my favourite adventure stories; it's a cracking good read.

Hmm, so, you should have a combination of the two, because I love the Oxford translation! Maybe I should find a Penguin copy and read it just to see what the Oxford one is missing...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toxaris

There are many good translations. A translation is always difficult, because language is more than just a grouping of words. Some words have special meaning for which there is no substitute. That is why I prefer to read the original language, if I can (are you hearing me, US and UK publishers!).

You should know by know that nobody but the English and Americans read English! Why else shouldn't they want to sell those English language books to other countries?

HarryT · 10-11-2010, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Hmm, so, you should have a combination of the two, because I love the Oxford translation! Maybe I should find a Penguin copy and read it just to see what the Oxford one is missing...

It is available as an eBook. I think I'll buy it myself - it's a few years since I read the book, and I'd like to read it again.

Sweetpea · 10-11-2010, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It is available as an eBook. I think I'll buy it myself - it's a few years since I read the book, and I'd like to read it again.

Somewhere I can buy it? As I can't buy from Penguin themselves... And I'm not sure if the kindle book is mobi or topaz...

doreenjoy · 10-11-2010, 06:18 AM

The new translation of Anna Karenina by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky.

Sweetpea · 10-11-2010, 07:12 AM

Slightly off-topic, but I must share this one. It's a review on the Penguin version of the Count of Monte Cristo. A 1-star review at that:

http://www.amazon.com/review/RK6OQ9T...tag=&linkCode=

Quote:

I was looking for a good read, so I asked my friend what a good piece of literature was, and he recommended this book.

<snip>

I saw this, and was kind of shocked at this book's length. But then again, it had the word 'Count' in it, so it had to be about vampires, hopefully a very long vampire romance with hawt scenes in it. I was wrong.

<snip>

And Monte Cristo isn't even a vampire.

You should read the entire review, but be sure you secure yourself upon your seat, or you'll fall off!

10-10-2010, 10:05 PM	#1
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,248 Karma: 35000000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	The best translated Book you've ever read As Harry T has pointed out in the classic thread, reading a translated book may not match up with the original book in the original language. So, what is the best translated books you;ve ever read? (To me, it's like the best Classic work thread, too many great works, each do different that I can't judge between them. Hopefully you can...)

10-10-2010, 11:04 PM	#4
Stitchawl Opsimath Posts: 12,344 Karma: 187123287 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand Device: Sony PRS-650, iPhone 5, Kobo Glo, Sony PRS-350, iPad, Samsung Galaxy	"Tao Te Ching" by Lao Tzu Translated into German by Richard Wilhelm then into English by Cary F. Baynes. Having read more than 15 different translations of this work, the Wilhelm/Baynes translation is far and away my favorite. They did a fantastic job of the 'I Ching' as well, perhaps the most readable translation, but not as accurate as some others. Stitchawl Last edited by Stitchawl; 10-11-2010 at 07:10 AM.

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10-10-2010, 10:50 PM	#2
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	Astérix, from French to UK English (they did some specific US translations awhile ago, but those were boring and sucked). The Astérix albums are very pun and cultural reference-heavy, and translators Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge did a brilliant job finding British equivalents that were often just as funny and fitting, if not more so. For more "literary" works, I'd have to say various translations from the Oulipo movement, simply because of sheer technical difficulty on top of the usual one-language-to-another issues. Especially that book which was written without using the letter E, which the translators have apparently taken it upon themselves to try and replicate said feat in their own languages. One day I shall have to try collecting their efforts, whether or not I can actually read them. As for Oulipo translations I've actually read and can compare to the originals, I myself own two different illustrated versions of Exercices de Style, and have read both the very nicely adapted English translation, and also the excellent graphic novel homage, from the library.

10-10-2010, 11:01 PM	#3
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,189 Karma: 100500000 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	Are you asking for books where we read both original and translated editions?

10-10-2010, 11:14 PM	#5
GA Russell Montreal wins Grey Cup! Posts: 7,583 Karma: 31484197 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	I read the Bantam edition of The Count of Monte Cristo and enjoyed it very much. I never felt like I was missing out because I was not reading it in its original language, although I would be happy to believe anyone who has read them both who told me that the original was better..

10-11-2010, 01:56 AM	#6
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I only read translations of books where I can't read the original language. Which means I can't say which translation I find best (nothing to compare it to...)

10-11-2010, 04:07 AM	#7
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	There are many good translations. A translation is always difficult, because language is more than just a grouping of words. Some words have special meaning for which there is no substitute. That is why I prefer to read the original language, if I can (are you hearing me, US and UK publishers!). Having said that, I think there are a number of good translations to dutch. - Asterix (never would have thought of that without ATDrake, thanks!) - Lord of the Rings (actually both translations, the official and unoffical) - Wheel of Time There are more, but I tend to read English as much as I can.

10-11-2010, 04:23 AM	#9
murraypaul Interested Bystander Posts: 3,725 Karma: 19728152 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Note 4, Kobo One	Best translated book I've read would probably be the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Best translation of a book that I've read would be Fagles' Iliad, it really highlights the difference a translator can make.

10-11-2010, 06:18 AM	#14
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	The new translation of Anna Karenina by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky.

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