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Translation Guide for Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov (Which One Should You Read?) (Patreon)

Published:
2023-03-05 20:28:05
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

Today we’re discussing which translation of Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov will provide you with the best experience of this masterpiece.

We have a few more discussions on War and Peace, and then Tolstoy will hand the baton to Dostoyevsky. So let's compare five popular translations in order to procure our copies. 

Our "taste test" involves translations from the following:

If you wish for your decision to be made for you, grab the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation, available in Vintage paperback, as this is the one I'm using for the lecture series.

Video Timestamps:

  • 0:00 preparing for our next big read
  • 1:20 the translations we’re comparing
  • 4:00 Dostoyevsky’s writing style
  • 5:00 Tolstoy vs Dostoyevsky
  • 6:10 translations & orienting rereading
  • 6:55 using your edition as workbook
  • 9:05 the passage we are comparing
  • 9:58 Pevear & Volokhonsky
  • 18:57 Constance Garnett
  • 25:25 Ignat Avsey
  • 31:42 David McDuff
  • 35:35 David Magarshack
  • 38:42 let us know your thoughts

Questions for You:

1) What did you make of the different translations?

2) Have you read multiple translations of a book? If so, did you notice a difference in reading experience?

3) Are there any writers who inspire you to learn their language?

Happy reading, everybody!

Files

Previews only

Which Translation of Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov Should You Read?

0:00 preparing for our next big read 1:20 the translations we’re comparing 4:00 Dostoyevsky’s writing style 5:00 Tolstoy vs Dostoyevsky 6:10 translations & orienting rereading 6:55 using your edition as workbook 9:05 the passage we are comparing 9:58 Pevear & Volokhonsky 18:57 Constance Garnett 25:25 Ignat Avsey 31:42 David McDuff 35:35 David Magarshack 38:42 let us know your thoughts

Comments

Leah

I liked hearing your comment on the tactile experience of reading. I at first set out to read your recommended translation of W&P or the P&V translation but I could not bring myself to do it because I felt in love with the feel and smell of the old Rosemary Edmonds translation that I found in my favorite bookstore. I absolutely love picking up my book everyday.

Brad E.

I read the first 100 pages in P and V's translation but found it a bit awkward and wooden to me as a native English speaker from Texas. I did a lot of research by reading samples of all of the major translations and ultimately landed on Ignat Avsey's Oxford Classics translation. I ended up absolutely loving it and it allowed me to plow through the book quickly due to how natural and smooth it read.