The Molinaro translation is the most common one, but that particular publisher uses a different translator for each book even though the formatting seems to be similar.
It's not the best translation in the world. I compared the first five pages of the translation with the original and I was not overwhelmed by the translation. Translating Kloster as "cloister" is certainly tempting, but it is imprecise since the German word means any sort of monastery, and "cloister" usually refers to a particular portion of a monastery in English (the pillared courtyard in the center or near the center). Also, Welsche in German means anyone from the south or the Mediterranean area, so translating it as "Savoyard" is artistic license. Schriften can mean "scrolls", but it is a broader term meaning simply "writings", and I would have translated it that way. Weisheit der Evangelien was translated as "wisdom of the testaments" rather than "wisdom of the Gospels", which is far better. The part about exorcisms says that the monastery was sometimes famous on account of its Teufelbanner und Dämonenkenner, which is more like saying its "exorcists and demonologists".
In other words, I don't really like a lot of the conscious choices that appear to have been made by the translator. However, I think that despite the imprecise translation, the general sense is close enough that it should provide a similar enough reading experience.
It's not the best translation in the world. I compared the first five pages of the translation with the original and I was not overwhelmed by the translation. Translating Kloster as "cloister" is certainly tempting, but it is imprecise since the German word means any sort of monastery, and "cloister" usually refers to a particular portion of a monastery in English (the pillared courtyard in the center or near the center). Also, Welsche in German means anyone from the south or the Mediterranean area, so translating it as "Savoyard" is artistic license. Schriften can mean "scrolls", but it is a broader term meaning simply "writings", and I would have translated it that way. Weisheit der Evangelien was translated as "wisdom of the testaments" rather than "wisdom of the Gospels", which is far better. The part about exorcisms says that the monastery was sometimes famous on account of its Teufelbanner und Dämonenkenner, which is more like saying its "exorcists and demonologists".
In other words, I don't really like a lot of the conscious choices that appear to have been made by the translator. However, I think that despite the imprecise translation, the general sense is close enough that it should provide a similar enough reading experience.
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
This message last edited by Tom on 12/12/2011 at 06:02:04 PM
Narziß und Goldmund (Narcissus and Goldmund) by Hermann Hesse.
11/12/2011 09:16:43 PM
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I plan on reading more Hesse in 2012
11/12/2011 09:33:10 PM
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I have seven of his books
11/12/2011 09:36:34 PM
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I read and enjoyed Siddhartha very much after your recommendation.
11/12/2011 11:48:16 PM
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You should totally read more Tolkien! He was the last "real" author.
11/12/2011 11:45:41 PM
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Sounds interesting.
12/12/2011 04:45:35 PM
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The Molinaro translation may be the only one.
12/12/2011 05:21:45 PM
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And actually that doesn't look to be the case
12/12/2011 06:01:35 PM
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Slightly off-topic (and self-serving), but you might be interested in this
12/12/2011 06:27:01 PM
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"And so it took no time for the small and hardy reptile to succumb to the blows of my rocks".
12/12/2011 06:58:34 PM
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Nice alternate
12/12/2011 07:11:40 PM
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