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Best translation of Dostoyevsky 's Demons with critical apparatus , namely , notes and introduction ? Perhaps Volokhonsky/Pevear or Maquire/Meyer/Belknap (Penguin Classics) ? Thank you kindly in advance.

Nick Crider Everyone and their second cousin is going to say P/V. This likely is more on the basis of their publishers and PR team than their actual translation w…moreEveryone and their second cousin is going to say P/V. This likely is more on the basis of their publishers and PR team than their actual translation work. It generally is thrilling to read, but some think at a cost. It's like the other end of the Garnett coin. Depends on what you want though. The sad fact is, dozens of good translators have tried to tackle Dostoyevsky but it's not an easy thing to do. You won't find a translation that does not sacrifice some things, that does not do some things poorly. If you want the joy of Russian prose, learn Russian. Otherwise, pick up 3 or so translations in a book stoor and compare passages, pick the one that reads best to you.

If you are solely interested in the plot and characters, you can't lose with Garnett, infinitely readable and comfortable. Be warned though, you are not getting near the prose of Dostoyevsky, you are getting the prose of Garnett. For something in the middle, Katz or Mcduff are very respectable. P/V is a lively read, sometimes overly so. This is them trying to capture the unique gate of Dostoyevsky but they don't do it well, none could; it ends up coloring the translation a bit too much after their own images.(less)

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Can anybody recommend a good translation into English for this book?

Karen Michele Burns My son just recommended that I make sure to get the Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky translation. We both read and enjoyed their translation of …moreMy son just recommended that I make sure to get the Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky translation. We both read and enjoyed their translation of The Brothers Karamazov.(less)

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I heard that Stavroguin confession is left out of some books ? Can somebody tell me where it is located so I can see if it is there or not ? Thank you!

Lucy Day Werts .
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You're right, some of the Garnett and Magarshack editions don't have the chapter "At Tikhon's", containing Stavrogin's confession; all the newer tra…more.
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You're right, some of the Garnett and Magarshack editions don't have the chapter "At Tikhon's", containing Stavrogin's confession; all the newer translations have it either in the novel or as an appendix.

This page lists various editions of all 7 translations and notes whether the chapter is included and where.

For more information on the various translations and editions, including cover images, ISBNs, pagecounts, extracts, and links to relevant articles, visit We Love Translations: World Literature in English.

» What's the Best Translation of Demons (aka Devils aka The Possessed)?

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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Quang Kim

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Who is the translator of this New translation version?

Lucy Day Werts .
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I think you are asking about the Alma Classics edition from 2017, titled Devils. This is the translation by Roger Cockrell.

For more information on a…more.
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I think you are asking about the Alma Classics edition from 2017, titled Devils. This is the translation by Roger Cockrell.

For more information on all 7 available translations and editions of this novel (which is also known as Demons and The Possessed), including cover images, ISBNs, pagecounts, extracts, and links to relevant articles, visit We Love Translations: World Literature in English.

» What's the Best Translation of Demons (aka Devils aka The Possessed)?

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