NP-Proust

[David Morris]

I think I'd never forgive myself it I first did Proust in audiobook..  But
thanks for thr help.

On Sunday, September 23, 2012, Markekohut wrote:

> It is just recently out as an unabridged audiobook. 147 CDs or so.
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Sep 23, 2012, at 9:09 PM, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com<javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', 'fqmorris at gmail.com');>>
> wrote:
>
> Wow, Bekah, Proust I've not read past two pages.  Slow, no? Maybe Western
> Zen? I wouldn't know...
> But I doN't want to sound like a redneck!
>
> On Sunday, September 23, 2012, Bekah wrote:
>
>> I'm not sure it matters -   I've read the volumes in different
>> translations (LOL!)
>>
>> The reason is that I already had Swann's Way on the shelf in the old
>> Scott Montcrieff translation but when I went to get the next three they
>> were available in the new Penguin translations by James Grieve,  Mark
>> Trehane,  John Sturrock.  But the last 2 volumes had not been translated
>> for that series so I went back to the Scott Montrcrieff.
>>
>> **** THIS IS A REVIEW BY AN AMAZON READER **** (but I agree with it):
>>
>> Just as a general note with Proust translations, compare them in a
>> bookstore before you buy any of them.
>>
>> There is the original C.K. Scott Moncrieff translation, which is
>> beautiful, though based on a flawed edition put together shortly after
>> Proust's death (especially the later books in the set).
>>
>> Then there is Terrence Kilmartin's revision, which is based on a much
>> better French edition. You can still find editions of this used, and
>> occasionally new as well. I prefer this one, as Kilmartin didn't change
>> most of the truly beautiful language that Moncrieff rendered except in a
>> few places to clarify confusing sentences.
>>
>> D.J. Enright, who worked with Kilmartin, made further revisions after the
>> latter's death, whose work (so he says) was incomplete. His reworking is
>> based on yet an even newer edition of the French text, though with fewer
>> changes than the previous French edition had from the original. I feel that
>> Enright modernized the language too much. He claims French hasn't changed
>> much as a language compared to English since the early 20th Century, so to
>> approximate how it would read to a French person today, it needs to be put
>> into more comtemporary language. I don't care for it personally.
>>
>> I've read some of these other, altogether new translations, which is a
>> good effort considering the potential for incoherence you might have
>> reading a revision of a revision of a translation (whew!). They're not bad,
>> but nowhere near as much of a "new standard" as, say, the
>> Pevear-Volokhonsky translations of Dostoevsky, which give the reader a
>> clearer original while still using beautiful and idiomatic English.
>>
>> But back to Proust. Decide for yourself! Compare an old version of
>> Moncrieff's translation to his revisors, and then check out these new ones
>> published by Penguin.
>>
>> And better yet, if you understand French at all, look at a French copy
>> and just absorb the rhythm, the flow of the words, and find a translation
>> that feels the same.
>>
>> I can't tell you how many times I've spoken to people who hated foreign
>> books in translation, only to find out they read a translation that reads
>> like a textbook and not like something that was meant to be enjoyed!!
>>
>> **********************************
>>
>> Me again:
>>
>> Bottom line, imo  -  if you're a new reader and not used to the old
>> Montcrieff or Enright or something,  go with the newer Penguin Classics
>> translations (2005).  If you've already started one of the old
>> translations,  try the new version and see how you like it -  if not - go
>> with what you like.
>>
>> Try them out in some bookstore or sample you find online.
>>
>> The Penguin translations are NOT done by the same person all the way
>> through.  This means they're not all smooth like the Moncrieff/Kilmartin/
>> Enright ones. Each book reads a bit differently, style-wise.
>>
>> Bekah
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sep 23, 2012, at 12:24 AM, Rich Clavey <antizoyd at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>> > Any opinions as to which English translation of Proust to read?
>> > Thanks
>> > rich
>> >
>> > http://www.macclaveyphotography.com/
>>
>>
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