Best translation of Anna Karenina?

[TheFifthElement]

I'm planning on reading Tolstoy's Anna Karenina next year and could use some advice on the best translation. Any views?

Thanks :D

[Calidore]

When it comes to Tolstoy, I usually hear the most praise for the Maude translations. They knew Tolstoy personally and worked with him on their translations. Oxford and Norton both use the Maude translations for their editions.

[Desolation]

For Russian lit, I tend to go for the Pevear/Volokhonsky translations, when available.

[kelby_lake]

I found the Rosemary Edmonds translation very readable.

[PoeticPassions]

For Russian lit, I tend to go for the Pevear/Volokhonsky translations, when available.

I second that.

"Their translations have been nominated three times and twice won the PEN/Book-of-the-Month Club Translation Prize (for Tolstoy's Anna Karenina and Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov)"

:)

[mal4mac]

I read Garnett's translation of Anna K a few years ago, which I'd recommend.

There is no 'best' translation. If you dig into comparisons of the various translations, amongst those who've read them all, there is no consensus. All the translators mentioned so far receive some praise, so you probably can't go far wrong whichever one you choose.