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/lit/ - Literature

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13658846 No.13658846 [Reply] [Original]

Tell it to be straight /lit/ -- what is the best translation of Dostoevsky's Demons? I am reading the Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky translation, but it feels clunkier than their usual stuff.

According to Ronald Hingley, Demons is one of Dostoevsky's "greatest onslaught on Nihilism", and "one of humanity's most impressive achievements—perhaps even its supreme achievement—in the art of prose fiction."

I want to get the fullest, smoothest reading experience. So, which translation would you recommend?

>> No.13658849

Get the Katz.

>> No.13658852

>>13658846
You can’t translate literature. It’s like looking at someone else painting of a Van Gogh.

>> No.13658855

>>13658852
That's great and all, but we can't live in a funnel. There are great works which I want to read which weren't published in English.

>> No.13658870
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13658870

>>13658852

>> No.13658872

>>13658849
>Katz.

I'm gonna go with Katz. Based on what I'm reading, P&V are good for other works but not for Demons. Katz is superior, not as dry, and captures the comedy better.

>> No.13659474

>>13658846
What translation of BK should I read?

>> No.13659478

>>13659474
Ignat Avsey

>> No.13659480

>>13659474
I like David Mcduff for bk

>> No.13659520

https://www.commentarymagazine.com/articles/the-pevearsion-of-russian-literature/

>> No.13659605

>>13659478
>>13659480
So what are the pros and cons of each? What do they focus on?

>> No.13659873

>>13659605
Avsey is more of a domesticator than McDuff or P&V, who tend to be more literal. This is reflected in his choice of title for TBK: he calls it The Karamazov Brothers because the family name coming last sounds ordinary to the Russian ear so, he reasons, the title should sound ordinary to the English ear rather than exotic. Avsey’s translation is a smooth and enjoyable read, and if you’re looking for less awkwardness you’ll be happy with it.

>> No.13660212

>>13658846
The one in which the book isn't called 'Demons'. Try 'Бecы'.

>> No.13660334

>>13658846
I read the P&V translation, thought it was dull for the first two thirds but couldn't put it down towards the end.

>> No.13660344

Magarshack

>> No.13660515

>>13658846
I read the Constance Garnett translation and liked it
>>13659474
Avsey

>> No.13660533

>>13658852
>Just learn all forms of Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Farsi, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi and the thousand other languages of India, Spanish, French, German, Italian........

>> No.13660544

>>13658846
First they told me it was Crime and Punishment
Then that it was Brother Karamazov
Just a while ago they said Notes from the Underground was the best
And now Demons?
Do I seriously need to read all of Dostoevsky's work?

>> No.13660553

>>13660515
Constance gets shit on, and while her translations are usually subpar compared to many modern translation, there’s a certain charm to them. She was a workhorse that pumped out translations as if her life depended on it, even when her health was failing and her eyes were essentially useless.

>> No.13660982

>>13660544
its actually the idiot

>> No.13661082

>>13660544
You NEED to read the four mentioned + The Idiot.
That being said, The Karamazov Brothers is his magnum opus and if you were in some hypothetical situation in which you could only read one, it should be that.

>> No.13661538

>>13660982
I agree with this

>> No.13661821

>>13660344
I have this guy's translations for Dostevsky's short stories. Has anyone else read him?

>> No.13661838

>>13661821
Yeah, Megashark is good.

>> No.13661870

>And in the end the real demons were the friends Shatov made along the way, Mon cher ami

>> No.13661915

How long until the book gets interesting? I got about 200pages in but it was just talking about the one guy and his patroness and their friends.

>> No.13661933

>>13661915
You are almost where it starts getting interesting, Pyotr and Stavrogin really spice things up.

>> No.13661970

>>13659873
>the title should sound ordinary to the English ear rather than exotic.
The problem with that is "The Brothers Karamazov" is such a well-known title that calling it "The Karamazov Brothers" seems almost exotic.

>> No.13662173

>>13661915
Keep going, the fête chapters are by far one of the best parts of the book.