Log in

View Full Version : Thoughts on Madame Bovary translation



bootyqueen
04-17-2006, 03:09 PM
I just picked this book up at a used bookstore yesterday. I'm interested to hear what your thoughts on it are.
I'm reading the Steegmuller translation from 1957. The book was written in 1897, and I find the translation a little odd becuase he uses phrases that weren't used in 1897. (Spitballs, cramming in lieu of studying, etc.) It kind of bugs me because it doesn't feel like the original piece, it FEELS translated. Has anyone else had this feeling with this particular book or any other book that was translated?
I read Story of O, which was translated from French also, and I definetely didn't get this feeling.
Any thoughts??

chez
04-18-2006, 07:16 AM
im reading the translation by Geoffrey Wall which probably feels more modern

Theshizznigg
05-23-2006, 11:23 AM
I'm reading the Wordsworth edition, its fairly cut and dry, but it is an original translation. :) I'm having fun finding words that I don't know, and looking them up.