What's a good English translation of Dostoyevsky's novel "The Idiot" and when did you read it?

[Boojatta]

[fascisthunter]

1. damn... I read it about 1990 or so

I wish I could tell you whether it was a good translation of not.

Dostoyevsky is probably my favorite writer... "Notes from Underground" my fav

[Bumblebee]

2. Don't buy Richard Pevear, and Larissa Volokhonsky's translation

Go for the Penguin one by David McDuff, and William Mills Todd. I read it as a child and teach it to my students.

[LearnedHand]

5. Actually, Pevear's & Volokhnosky's translations ...

... are MARVELOUS! I've not read The Idiot, but I have read their translations of Anna Karenina and War and Peace.

[WCGreen]

3. The NYT keeps an archive of book reviews going back decades and

they always review new tranlations of the classics. I would check there. Or call the local college, they would have an English prof who could guide you...

[OffWithTheirHeads]

4. I think I read it in about 1967 and have no idea wether it was

a good translation or not because I have nothing to compare it to.

I second the rec for Notes from the Underground though.

[Boojatta]

6. Kick

[mod mom]

7. I've read both a translation by Constance Garnett & one by Julius

Katzer but to be truthful it was so long ago (sometime between '83 and '85) I don't really remember. While I was in grad school we were required to do projects outside our realm of study (can you believe Hospital Administration?)as part of the program. I chose to read all the Dostoyevsky classics after falling in love with Crime & Punishment. I remember my advisor asking me why I was bothering to pursue this particular degree as he doubted I would use it. I was shocked that he responded to me in this way as I did very well in his classes and always participated. As it turned out, I only worked about 6 months in the field before starting my own business, far from my area of study.

:hi:

Would love to reread these wonderful works of literature but I already have a dark cloud hovering over me from facing what is occurring in this country. Very dark works.

[raccoon]

8. Is the book about GWB? (sorry, I couldn't resist.) nt

[pitohui]

9. read it 30 years ago

not informed enough to know if it was a "good" translation or who translated it either but i was personally very moved by the story