Reading the Chunksters discussion
Archived 2015 Group Reads
>
War and Peace - What's in a name? ... hmmm ... translation?
date
newest »
newest »
I'm no expert, and others here may be, but I'm aware of three main choices for translations. Constance Garnett is, I believe, the translator chosen by Tolstoy. She did a lot of translating from the Russians. Some readers think she makes all the Russian writers sound alike, but for a long time her translation was the only one available, and it's still widely read. It's the translation I used when I read W&P for college.
Louise and Aylmer Maude did a translation which appears to have been heavily influenced by Garnett, but I think it's better, still somewhat old fashioned language (which I like in classics personally). It's the translation I read the last time I read W&P, and I enjoyed it.
Pevear and Volokhonsky did a more recent translation which many people recommend. It's more modern in its language and approach, but one criticism made of it is that it keeps the original French passages (and there are many) in the French and translates them in footnotes, which some readers find annoying. I've read some of it, but find it a bit too breezy for my taste.
There's a translation by Briggs I have never read and know nothing of.
Finally, here is a thread from the "Classics and the Western Canon" group which read W&P several years ago which goes into translations in more detail:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Thank you Eman for pointing us to the thread from Classics and the Western Cannon. There are a number of helpful resources here! I especially enjoy the New Yorker article, The Translation Wars:
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/200....
I read the Garnett translation the first (and so far only) time that I read War and Peace. I had such a wonderful experience with the book that I'm hesitant to try something new.
I read the first few pages of P&V on Amazon. It would be difficult for me to explain 'why', but I just felt that reading this translation would be less enjoyable. Perhaps I should read Maude this time. Since Maude is the translation on Project Gutenberg, I could even get away without buying another copy of the book. :)
I read the P&V version when I read this with the Bookish group, and I really enjoyed that translation. a few people read different translations and it was interesting when we compared some of the ways passages and descriptions had been translated. I'm using the same copy as last time so P&V it will be for me.
I'm going to be reading the Barnes and Nobles Classics version. This is my first time reading War & Peace and it seemed to be a pretty modern translation. However, I must also admit that it does look nice on my shelf with my other Barnes and Noble Classics...
My hardcover edition of War and Peace is the Maude translation, so that is the version I plan to use. Hopefully I like this book much more than I liked Anna Karenina. Ugh, that was horrible! The whole last half seemed to drag on and on. I have never read War and Peace before.
Does anyone have any experience listening to this in audio format. I might try that......or skip this read as I just started a "buddy read" with my husband on Dance with Dragons (also over 1000 pages).
JoLene wrote: "Does anyone have any experience listening to this in audio format. I might try that......or skip this read as I just started a "buddy read" with my husband on Dance with Dragons (also over 1000 pa..."I listened to parts of it in audio as I read it for a group read. It was interesting to hear the parts well voiced, but it was also much slower than reading to myself, of course, and I couldn't go back to check things. I think if I tried to just listen to it without a book in hand I would get lost in all the characters, but I'm not that good at audio learning and remembering who that person was who came into the book two disks before, so others might be more successful.
I agree, Everyman.....I would probably check out a copy at the library so I had a reference.....
With my already too cluttered brain I have given up on keeping track of characters when there are so many. I now keep a character notebook to track everyone. With "Anna Karenina", a character didn't even make it into the notebook until they had shown up at least three times and I got the feeling they may be significant. WAY too many people come and go in that book. I wonder if "W&P" will be any easier...I am assuming no.
Just a piece of information to do with as you will. BBC Radio Four is presenting a ten hour reading by John Hurt of 'War and Peace' on New Year's Day, 1st January. I believe that it runs from 9am (Greenwich Mean Time) until 9.30pm. It will be broken up by news bulletins etc., hence the length. I don't know if you can access it in North America, but if I miss it I'm hoping that I can catch up on iPlayer later.I'm sorry if this is no darn use to you in the States and Canada, but just in case ...
I've read W&P probably at least four times now. I tend to re-read it every few years and always discover something new. Can't add my thoughts to any translations mentioned since I only read it in Russian.
Viktoriya wrote: "I've read W&P probably at least four times now. I tend to re-read it every few years and always discover something new. Can't add my thoughts to any translations mentioned since I only read it in R..."I've only read it twice all the way through, might not re-read the whole book for this read, but might refresh my memory enough to maybe add one or two not too meaningless comments.
I decided to go with the P&V translation. I don't like that Garnett uses Roman Catholic images in lieu of Orthodox ones. Plus, I have tapped people I respect as well read and they said P&V is the way in which to here.As a side note, I did read the Garnett translation of Anna K and loved it.
Now the e-version or the paper one?
I have settled on the Maude translation. The Nook book was only $2.99. Now if I can only find the time to read it AND, more importantly, keep up with the group.
I think I'm going with Maude as well. I think that it's either The Maude's or Garnett if you want to do audios. I actually downloaded samples of the Maude's and P & V which I liked ( because I could practice my French :-)), but I couldn't find an audio version of P & V. I think that will cover all bases and have a library hard copy, kindle and audio :-)
Guys, I know you are getting slightly impatient here, but please bear with us. Kristi will be posting the schedule shortly. As you all know, December is a busy months for many people If something goes wrong, I will try to help her. Thank you for your patience.
No pressure from me.......I'm not sure a about others, but I'd be fine starting in Jan.
I'm happy to start in January, December is proving to be monumental and we're not even a third of the way through yet.
I was shooting for January as well so it works for me.I decided to get the P&V a version on my Kindle. I bought it yesterday and will be ready to roll January 1.
E :) wrote: "I would also prefer January 1. :)"I'm not sure how active I'll be, if at all (which doesn't violate group rules since I didn't vote for it), but I if my opinion matters despite that, I would prefer a January start, too.
But really, the view of those who are committed to reading it and discussion it are far more important than mine.
I so want to read this book, but I'm still only just over half way through Anna Karenina. This has been a frustratingly slow reading time for me. My husband read W & P a few months back and has only good things to say of it. Realistically though, I'll not make it this time round. :-(
Hilary wrote: "I so want to read this book, but I'm still only just over half way through Anna Karenina. This has been a frustratingly slow reading time for me. My husband read W & P a few months back and has o..."Hilary,
I too am still struggling through Anna Karenina so I feel your pain. I do hope to participate with this read, even though I didn't vote. AK will go to the back burner (again).
Oh that's a relief that I'm not the only one, Shea. I love AK so that's not the problem, but my rotation of too many books has me running to stand still. I must think about that. It seems that I miss W&P each time round.
Hey everyone! Just wanted to check in and be sure you all got the event invite. I'm looking at starting the schedule on January 5th so we can be past all the holiday madness. Also, as I wrote in the invitation, I'm looking for one of the voters to lead the discussions. I'll make the schedule (should be up by the end of the week) and be there to help, but due to classes I'm taking through March I won't have time to delve into W&P with you all, but I want everyone to have a great experience. I think that with some experienced support the discussion leader can really help with that. Let me know if any of you are interested.
Just ordered a copy after much deliberation decided on Maude version New Year resolution will be to try and keep up with the schedule
Ok everyone, I'm here to apologize. I've been running around like a crazy lady, but I'm going to the library to get the book and make the schedule tonight. You should see it posted sometime tomorrow.Also E has kindly volunteered to lead discussions, but would love to have a co-discussion leader to help her out if she falls behind. Is anyone interested in being a co-leader?
I hope everyone is having a fun and festive kick-off to the holiday season!!
Hi,I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season.:) It seems we have a solid group of readers for W&P. I'm excited!
Only two weeks left before we start. I hope you're almost ready! :) I don't know about you, but I'll be using holiday travel & vacation time to hopefully polish off the other chunky reads I have going.
For anyone who's on the fence, this article helped to persuade my hubby to read along with me: 7 Reasons You Should Give War and Peace a Chance.
Thank you for this, E! I haven't had time for reading recently and that will only get worse over the Christmas season. Your link has made me wonder if I ought to put Anna Karenina on hold yet again as another reader suggested she would do. This might be too good an opportunity to miss!!!
Hilary-I'm putting a couple of things on hiatus as well. I started reading/listening to W&P this week just to make sure I would be able to make the commitment, and it's lovely.
Yep, Renee. I think I shall go for it. My husband read it a few months back and has raved about it ever since! :-)
I joined this group so I could discuss this book. Very excited you're doing it.I've started and am reading the P&V translation on Kindle. I am enjoying it, although agree with Everyman's point about the footnotes (which is annoying but could be remedied if ebook publishers could create a pop up screen within the text rather than flipping you to a different screen).
It reads quite smoothly for the non-initiated (I've read Anna Karenina but limited in my knowledge of Russian culture and history). I do like reading it in ebook format as I can instantly look up definitions and wikipedia search names and events (which further enhance the footnotes). I haven't noticed name issues yet in this version, which I don't know if it's due to P&V or I'm not far enough into it.
Anyway, looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
I'd like to add the Penguin translations into the mix. Rosemary Edmonds - Penguin Classics (1957)
Anthony Briggs - Penguin Books (2005)
When I reread "Anna K" a couple years ago, I actively compared the P&V to my old Penguin copy with Rosemary Edmonds, and usually liked the older much better.
1. P&V: more stilted; RE: flows better as reading experience
2. P&V: sometimes seems too modern or American phrasing, like characters are not in 1800s Russia; RE seems older (Britishisms, maybe)
3. P&V sometimes seemed "incorrect" as if idioms were literally translated into an image, instead of into what the idiom means (in English). I don't know Russian so can not verify that, but that's what it seems like.
So for "War & Peace" I'm reading the Rosemary Edmonds, with the P&V along for reference. I'm thinking of ordering the Briggs out of curiosity.
Ran across this on Tolstoy Therapy, a site about books and reading. She finds the Briggs translation the best. On War & Peace: My Problems With The Pevear & Volokhonsky Translation
Part I:
http://www.tolstoytherapy.com/2014/01...
Part II:
http://www.tolstoytherapy.com/2014/01...
Hi Bonnie. I'm unfamiliar with Briggs, but I find Maude very accessible. Still haven't finished Anna K, but my book is Maude and the Kindle version is, I believe, P&V. It certainly doesn't hold a candle to Maude in my opinion.
It is also the thread to discuss all things WaP - size, complexity, 'cultish' hoopla, etc. Obviously, NO SPOILERS. It is just a preliminary thread to warm you up before the discussion starts.