Which translation of In Search of Lost Time, or should one go straight to the French?

[Archaea]

SIEQ.

Is there a volume you single out?

Do you favor the old translation or the new Penguin translation?

[Sleeping in EQ]

I have the Penguin paperbacks. Someday I'll get nice hard cover editions.

The new translations (like the Penguins) are supposed to be better. I'm not sure exactly why, I'm going from a conversation I had with the old, bearded, pipe smoking indy book store owner where I bought the volumes.

I wish I knew something substantive about the French additions. All I know is that they are supposed to be better than the English ones.

I also have Shattuck's guide to ISOLT, and found it useful. It's a mix of notes and scholarly commentary that make it a kind of a field guide.

[creekster]

French literature is very difficult, IMO, becasue of the non-spoken tenses that are used. You may be able to deal with it though.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by creekster

French literature is very difficult, IMO, becasue of the non-spoken tenses that are used. You may be able to deal with it though.

The literary tenses were my speciality, because I usually learn whatever is most useless.

and except for etre and avoir, they're quite predictable actually, if you're referring to passe simple and the variations of that.

[creekster]

Originally Posted by Archaea

The literary tenses were my speciality, because I usually learn whatever is most useless.

and except for etre and avoir, they're quite predictable actually, if you're referring to passe simple and the variations of that.

I the quebecois or the Belgiques don't say it, I certainly can't read it. I had guess you might be able to, however!

I also think that recognizing them and appreciating the nuance is a little different, for me at least.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by creekster

I the quebecois or the Belgiques don't say it, I certainly can't read it. I had guess you might be able to, however!

I also think that recognizing them and appreciating the nuance is a little different, for me at least.

Recognizing is one thing, but actually it slows me down enough to ponder what nuance the author is trying to make.

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by Archaea

SIEQ.

Is there a volume you single out?

Do you favor the old translation or the new Penguin translation?

Mon cher Archaea, vous devez essayer la langue des français merveilleux. Comme leur terre, la langue est pure et belle. Votre intelligence évidente permettrait de maîtriser rapidement les nuances. Je vous souhaite la bonne chance dans cet effort.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by Requiem

Mon cher Archaea, vous devez essayer la langue des français merveilleux. Comme leur terre, la langue est pure et belle. Votre intelligence évidente permettrait de maîtriser rapidement les nuances. Je vous souhaite la bonne chance dans cet effort.

Merci a toi. Moi, je suis autodidacte, donc je fais beaucoup de fautes.