I’m curious how many of you lovely visitors to my blog actually read translated fiction, so i have created a little poll to find out! I would appreciate a few seconds of your time to click one of the options below. Thanks!
A Poll on Translated Fiction
Posted: April 20, 2012 in Books and their issuesTags: Book, Books, Literature, Reading, Translated fiction, translation
Comments
I wasn’t sure which to pick, so I probably should have chosen not sure. I’ve attempted two translated works (possibly more and not known about it). One I gave up on because I didn’t like hte way the translator had written it, it didn’t sound well written into English and the writer would not have been so sloppy. The second I gave up on because I knew I just couldn’t finish it!
The works were Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne and War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. If you’re after something to read in translation, I’ve been told that 20,000 leagues under the sea is meant to be very, although my friend who told me that is fluent in French, so maybe it’s different in translation. I hope this answered your question a little better than my poll comment would have!
Thankyou for your comments! It seems to be a common thing that people find reading a badly translated book is off-putting, and it is a shame when there are some good books out there. We just have to hope that another translator will update the title one day and make it better to read! Then again, i guess there are just some books which we may not like but someone else will love.
Thanks for the suggestions, i haven’t read many of the classic, i prefer more modern titles but i know i should try to read them!