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differences in books from different publishers?

lfm

New Member
i recently received dostoevsky's crime and punishment as a gift, and im now reading it for the second time. ive noticed one difference in particular between the copy im reading now, and the one i read before. in the first copy, same as the second, raskolnikov is a 'former student.' only in the first one the plan of killing the woman, because what is one crime if that crime could benifit countless others?, came about from a paper raskolnikov was writing, for school i think. in the second copy however, the whole 'idea' behind killing the woman, killing one, helping others, comes from him going into a restuarant (after the initial idea to kill her) and over hearing two men having a conversation about the same subject.
this kind of bothers me only because i loved the book mainly because that was HIS way of thinking, not someone elses. im absolutely positive about there being a difference because i remember him explaining the whole meaning of it, and using several different rulers as examples of how the same idea has been used over the centuries. i cant remember who published the book (got it from the library) so actually finding the book myself to prove it is hopeless.
i was just wondering if anyone else noticed that after reading two different copys of the same book. because i cant see who ever translated them just being like, hey! i think it works better this way! and kind of changing the whole feel of the book on a whim.
also id like to reassure myself im not going crazy and thinking i read someting i didnt lol.
 
It is most likely a translation issue more than a publishing issue. However, just a reminder that you want to include Spoiler tags when including potential spoilers in a post. To do it, put [spoiler ] (without the space) in front of the text and [/spoiler ] (again, no space) at the end of it.
 
ah sorry, i completely forgot about that. it doesnt seem to want to let me edit it either, but ill be sure to remember next time.
do you, or anyone for that matter, remember how it went about when they read c&p?
 
I remember Raskolnikov being a former student. I read the Constance Garnett translation. Which translations are you referring to?
 
vintage classics.
i just dont see how it could be changed. you cant take 'X' amount of pages about ceasar and turn it into a paragraph about two drunk guys.
 
Pevear and Volokhonski are some of the best translators. Haven't read their translation of C&P, but some of their other translations are brilliant.
Back to your problem, I remember both passages in the same book. I will check my copy at home tonight and post tomorrow (I can't even remember which edition I have).
 
Differences between various translations of East European, and in particular Russian works, are often dependant on whether the translator is aiming for a literal or interpretive translation. Initial translations of Russian works often tended to be interpretive, although the current trend is more towards a literal presentation.

Another factor that sometimes occurs, particularly during the Soviet era with writers considered by the authorities to be politically critical, is that earlier, unfinished versions may have been translated. When a later, more complete version is uncovered this is also translated giving you two versions of the same book. Sometimes the more complete version has not been translated into English at all and you’re left with a translation that is a pale imitation of the original version; an example of this is ‘Forever Flowing’ by Vasily Grossman.

Regards,

K-S
 
In the Nov. 7th issue of The New Yorker there is an article about Russian translations. In this article the Garnett translations take a pretty hefty beating. The Pevear and Volokhonsky translations are talked about with considerably nicer language. The article confirmed my impression that P/K are the best translations currently available.
 
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