Translations

Hi, I posted on the main page earlier and someone diverted me here and said you guys in this group might help.
My query...

I read Bulgakov's Master and Margarita in the Peveor/Volokhonsky translation a while ago and now i want to read it again but I want to try another translation. Any recommendations? Anyone read more than one and can compare?

Thanks

I read the Vintage edition which was translated by Diane Burgin, and it was highly recommended. I loved it. When we did our group read of it, several people had this edition and several others had the Pevear/Volokhonsky. I believe there were some others. The group discussion was here:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/70914
and here
http://www.librarything.com/topic/72422

Enjoy!

Thanks for your reply.
I will check out the group discussions...

Geez, we are famous...

Someday someone will write a PhD thesis on our group and its conversations.

I think Smartini already did, Anna, for his 1000th review.

If only it were that easy ....

I'll leave you to celebrate yourselves. Thanks anyway

Everything turned out for the best in the best of all possible worlds.

I found his remark amusing. But I've always been of the mind that if I can't laugh at myself, someone else will be more than happy to do it for me. ;)

Ha, it was amusing. What a bunch of navel gazers we are! :)

Don't mention the e word

Edwardian?

It wasn't the remark so much as what I took to be the intent behind it (to wound). But perhaps I should assume the best:)

Oh mon cher don't take offense. I am not a malicious animal.

Understood! I'll edit the post immediately:):)

An English bloke who speaks French. What will they think of next?

And most generous leaving us to celebrate ourselves. Wasn't there just a touch, even though an eencybeencie little touch of the malign there. Motiveless eencybeencie malignity? Oh well, not much harm done.

Who was that masked man, anyway?

There's the Michael Glenny trans., the Ginsburg, Karpelson, all worthwhile. If you go through that thread Anna gave there's probably more listed there too.

I'd say I'm sorry we went Kool and the Gang on you, but that's who we are and what this place is, a celebration, to last throughout the year. So bring your good times, and your laughter too, we gonna celebrate and party wi'chu, c'mon now, Sellllll-lleeeee-bray-shun, woo hoo!

For what it's worth, and it might not be much, since I'm a subjective sort, I thought the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation of The Idiot too detailed. Perhaps others are less authentic, but I like my Russian translations smoothed out a bit.

I did not like the Pevear Idiot either but have not read it in other translations so... Strangely, I thought it a little too breezy, which, for all I know, was closer to how it would have been received by Fyodor's contemporaries.

The first thread anna provided contains a pretty good discussion about the various translations of M&M!

I've actually been wanting to pick up the P/V Idiot. I read their translations of The Brothers K. and Crime & Punishment, and loved them. But, then again, I haven't read any other translations, so I have nothing to compare them with.

I like my Russkies through the lens Constance Garnett brings to the table. Not too familiar, just the right touch of formality.

In this case, I agree with the guy who hates 2666!

I was underwhelmed with the P&V Anna Karenina. It felt bland. But then, I haven't read any other Tolstoy to compare it with, so who am I to talk? I hope my next Tolstoy will be a Constance Garnett.

I thought our dapper visitor let some fresh air into the salon, not enough to make it draughty.