English Translation Quality
Users debate the quality, readability, fidelity, and recommendations for English translations of a French literary work, sharing favorites like Hay's translation and critiquing issues like archaic verbosity.
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Any English translation worth reading?
You probably read the author's own translation into English, not an automatic one.
I had no idea - that's fascinating. Do you know of any translations that don't have those problems?
Keep in mind that you're reading a translation.
At the end it says it is translated from French. It seems like the translator went for fidelity to the original over readability in English.
Maybe, but I'll give some slack here. Translations aren't perfect and maybe it read better before translation.
Yes. Translations are never as good as they might be.
Which translation was it that you enjoyed?
Would you recommend any English translations?
Hay's translation is the only one I found readable. The rest as you found out are full of archaic verbosity.