Best translation of " The Brothers Karamazov"

[MarkosC]

All, the thread on novels got me thinking.  I will spend substantial parts of the next two months on planes or on buses.  During this time, I hope to read "The Brothers Karamazov". 

Which English translation do you all recommend?

Thanks,

Markos

 

[Aristocles]

I prefer that of Richard Prevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, but that is a preference from this non-Russian reader and based on how the book reads in English, not how true it is to the Russian.

 

[Quinault]

I have the translation that Αριστοκλής mentions. I really like it. But I have heard wonderful things about Pevear's translation as well.

 

[Justinian]

I second the above poster's recommendations. Beware of the Constance Garrett translation of Brothers Karamazov or any Russian work for that matter. I have it on good authority that she "winged" some of her translations, thus not giving you adequatley the full beauty and purpose of the original works themselves. 

 

[Severian]

I second the above poster's recommendations. Beware of the Constance Garrett translation of Brothers Karamazov or any Russian work for that matter. I have it on good authority that she "winged" some of her translations, thus not giving you adequatley the full beauty and purpose of the original works themselves. 

Lol, just my luck. That is the very translation I picked up today at the bookstore.

Oh yeah, and Thread resurrection!

 

[Asteriktos]

Richard Prevear and Larissa Volokhonsky

I'm not a translation snob like Achronos, but even a simpleton like me knows that this is the best one.

But if you have Garnett that'll work just fine. When you're starving it makes no sense to turn down a baked potato because you wanted filet mignon. Or something.

 

[Shanghaiski]

Richard Prevear and Larissa Volokhonsky

I'm not a translation snob like Achronos, but even a simpleton like me knows that this is the best one.

But if you have Garnett that'll work just fine. When you're starving it makes no sense to turn down a baked potato because you wanted filet mignon. Or something.

That's because you're not a snob. A real snob would rather starve than eat crap.

 

[Achronos]

Richard Prevear and Larissa Volokhonsky

I'm not a translation snob like Achronos, but even a simpleton like me knows that this is the best one.

But if you have Garnett that'll work just fine. When you're starving it makes no sense to turn down a baked potato because you wanted filet mignon. Or something.

It's actually the The Brothers Karamazov (Second Edition) (Norton Critical Editions) .