Which of the two translations is more closer to the original Russian one?
Which of the two translations is more closer to the original Russian one?
Just to clarify:
In the later translation the word "freethinkers" is used while the first one uses "nihilists," which in my opinion changes the meaning a lot. Any comments?
I'm using the translation by David Magarshack. I have read other translations by him, and I find his work to be very good. I am not confused by the word "nihilist" instead of "freethinker". Judging by the overall context of the people described in the book, I think his use of "nihilist" is fine. In general, the word "freethinker" sounds weaker, but I think we all get the idea of what the author means. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." I have also read other books by Dostoyevsky translated by Constance Garnet. I did not find her prose lacking in any way.
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