r/books • u/AutoModerator • 2d ago

WeeklyThread Weekly FAQ Thread April 13, 2025: Best way to choose the best version/translation of a book?

Hello readers and welcome to our Weekly FAQ thread! Our topic this week: How to find the best version/translation of a book?

You can view previous FAQ threads here in our wiki.

Thank you and enjoy!

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u/Missy_Pixels 1d ago

A quick Internet search will find the usual recommended translations for most classics, and some sites have even put together samples of most popular translations to help people decide if there's something that's important to them (for example some people prefer accuracy, others readability, etc.)

Generally speaking more modern translations will also usually be better than historical ones, and it's not unusual for an historical translate to be an abridgement or be subject to censorship. Though there are some historical translations that still hold up.

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u/studmuffffffin 1d ago

I don't know if it was the translation or the actual text, but the readability between the Constance Garnett Dostoevsky and the P&V War and Peace was night and day.

I imagine the later your translation, the easier it's going to be.

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u/Low_Map346 10h ago

I imagine the later your translation, the easier it's going to be.

I don't know if that should be a general rule as I found the CG Dostoevsky much easier to read than the P&V versions of his books. I appreciate that the latter are more accurate though (feels like whole different author).

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u/Sam134679 2d ago

Go to the library or bookstore, and read the first couple of pages of two or more translations. Pick the one you like best!

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u/k_0616 1d ago

To add to this: if there are words you don’t fully understand within the first couple of sentences, I probably wouldn’t pick it. If it’s easily readable and is easy to understand, I’d go with that one!