Count of Monte Cristo, The: Preliminary Discussion and Reading Schedule

[Everyman]

MadgeUK wrote: "I note that quite a few CMC Kindle editions are 'text to speech enabled'. Press Shift + Symbol keys to activate speech on/off when in text. "

But only on the new Kindle. My old, first generation Kindle doesn't have that. And while Laurel has done it, it's hard for me to justify buying a new Kindle just to get text to read when my old one still works fine for reading.

[MadgeUK]

I didn't know it was only on the new one Everyman and I agree it certainly isn't a reason for buying a new one because, as yet, the voices are very boring, probably computer generated. Maybe they will improve them by Kindle 4 and some good fairy might buy you one for your 80th:D. I am looking forward to the addition of colour and will perhaps get my kids to buy me another one when that happens.

[Gail]

I'm sorry to say that I won't be joining the group read this time. I never could get interested in Dumas. I hope to join the next read.

[Loretta]

Does anyone know if there's a translation for this that's particularly well-respected?

[Jeanne]

Loretta,

Here's what I found when I googled it:

A paragraph from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coun...

"The most common English translation was originally published in 1846 by Chapman and Hall. Most unabridged English editions of the novel, including the Modern Library and Oxford World's Classics editions, use this translation, although Penguin Classics published a new translation by Robin Buss in 1996. Buss' translation updated the language, is more accessible to modern readers, and restored content that was modified in the 1846 translation (due to Victorian English social restrictions (for example, references to Eugénie's lesbian traits and behavior)) to Dumas' actual publication. Other English translations of the unabridged work exist, but are rarely seen in print and most borrow from the 1846 anonymous translation."

A (modern) translation by Lorenzo Carcaterra also seems to be in print besides the one by Buss, I note.

[Loretta]

Jeanne: Incredibly helpful. Thanks.

[Rosemary]

I bought the Buss after reading lots of enthusiastic reviews of it on Amazon. I'm on chapter 5 and I'm enjoying it, but I've never read the older version so couldn't compare.

[Connor]

I am reading the Buss copy. I just checked it out at the school library. I have to say, I sure love this book. I've read two-hundred-eleven pages yesterday. I was on chapter thirteen to start and ended on chapter thirty-one. It's a great book so far.

[Jeanne]

I read a few pages of the Buss translation on Amazon and also read the first chapter of the older translation on the Gutenberg site. I prefer the Buss translation so I ordered it on Monday. It should arrive soon. This will be fun!