Questions About The Mabinogion

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I'm reading the Jeffrey Gantz translation, but I couldn't find that on Goodreads. How much do the translations differ?

Jenni The Guest version is older. Charlotte Guest was the wife of a Welsh industrialist in the early 1800's. Women of high society could not know about unse…moreThe Guest version is older. Charlotte Guest was the wife of a Welsh industrialist in the early 1800's. Women of high society could not know about unseemly things. Guest left some of these unsavory moments (death, rape, violence) out of the Mabinogion. Translating it at all would have harmed her reputation.
To be fair Guest did leave in some naughty parts. The scene with Goewin the footholder and Gilfaethwy stayed in even though the brothers forced her. The story of Peredur Son of Efrawg does not leave out Peredur's mother's advice to "make love to a woman weather she wishes it or not."
I cannot read Welsh but people who can have told me that the Gantz version is truer to the original. The Oxford library now uses Sioned Davies's translation. I would recommend reading her version.(less)

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One YouTuber said that this book's translation is kinda like King James English. Is that true?

Paul I'd need far more context to answer this properly. Did the youtuber mean it's filled with thous and thees and begats? Did they mean it's a questionabl…moreI'd need far more context to answer this properly. Did the youtuber mean it's filled with thous and thees and begats? Did they mean it's a questionable translation of the original language? There are a number of different translations of the original stories some better than others. Some of those may appeal to you, others may not. It doesn't read like a modern fantasy novel, because it isn't one.(less)

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