⚔️jousting jackdaw🐦‍⬛ asked this question about Les Misérables:
Which translation would you recommend? I'm looking at Donougher, Rose, and Denny.
Valentine I would also definitely recommend Donougher; I’m currently half way through and it’s lovely. Denny has quite an ‘old fashioned’ feel - he translated t…moreI would also definitely recommend Donougher; I’m currently half way through and it’s lovely. Denny has quite an ‘old fashioned’ feel - he translated the book in the 80s (I think) but it has an earnest-Victorian-novel sort of quality. If I’m remembering correctly, he also makes some alterations to the original French text - mostly inconsequential, but he modifies the structure slightly and removes/adds text in places. Rose’s translation is the complete opposite and the prose is extremely modern. It’s likely the easiest translation to read as it’s written more like a contemporary novel, but the language can be quite jarring. Donougher sits nicely in the middle in my opinion - accessible and conversational style but very true to the original text. Captures the poetic, thoughtful nature of Hugo’s writing without feeling hard work to read.(less)
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Martin Jones Very comprehensive - thank you.
Oct 18, 2020 08:47AM
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