Comments on: The Master and Margarita – the best translation?

By: Master and Margarita | Love, Sex & Other Dirty Words

Master and Margarita | Love, Sex & Other Dirty Words — Sat, 04 May 2013 02:10:34 +0000

[...] find out one blogger’s opinion where he compares certain passages with each other, click here to visit Michael A. Charles blog, Stuff I Done Wrote. Wonderful post about which one of [...]

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By: scott crosby (@impunity)

scott crosby (@impunity) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:47:57 +0000

I think my experience illustrates this issue. I read M&M in college at UCSB — checked it out at the library to save a buck or two. It was an old hardcover, I believe the Glenny version. It was incredible, one of the best books I’ve ever read, a real revelation. Later, after having returned my copy to the library, I bought the Ginsburg version (green cover with Behemoth the cat looking diabolical) and was just aghast that the teacher let the students believe this was an acceptable translation. IT WAS SO BAD, REALLY ATROCIOUS. The translation really is almost as important as the original creative, and in this case, makes all the difference. Just bought an old Glenny to verify, but I’m pretty sure that’s the one I read. Rightly deserves to be considered among the finest works of the 20th century, and both Bulgakov and the translator deserve a medal.

By: Rob McGee

Rob McGee — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 01:37:30 +0000

In chapter 14, a man is saved from two vampires by the sudden cry of a rooster announcing the dawn. The chapter’s title in Russian is_Slava petukhu_, which the Pevear/Volkhonsky translation renders as “Glory to the Cock” — an EXACTLY LITERAL rendering, but one that sounds, needless to say, rather unfortunate to native English ears.

Glenny translates it as “Saved by Cock-Crow”, which is better, though slightly bland. As a non-native Russian speaker, I’d personally recommend “Thank Goodness for Roosters” as being idiomatically nearest to the original.

P.S. As to which translation is best — if you’re an advanced student of the Russian language and want an English version for a side-by-side comparison with the original, there’s actually a lot to be said for Pevear/Volkhonsky.

On the other hand, if you DON’T read Russian and aren’t trying to learn, but simply want an English edition that’s idiomatic and readable and funny (I mean, funny where it’s supposed to be!), then I vote strongly for Glenny.

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 19:58:45 +0000

Thank you for loving with passion my favorite novel “Master and Margarita”.
I am Russian from Moscow, i was raised on this novel, i was many times near that apartment. I agree that the translation should be careful and thorough, there is so rich and colorful Russian language, then you might easy lose the meaning. As many books and plays of Soviet Union they had dowble meaning. Thank you again, Love, Alexandra Tselouiko

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sun, 06 May 2012 05:36:51 +0000

Hi there,
Awesome post, thanks!
Was wondering if someone had an opinion/preferred translation of “Heart of a Dog”?
Thanks

By: Max Kelleher

Max Kelleher — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:53:55 +0000

I read it in the Ginsburg translation, and it remains the best book I believe I’ve ever read, so the translator did something right!

By: olga

olga — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:39:01 +0000

Burgins’s is the best

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:50:20 +0000

Thank you – Great post! I was looking for some review on English versions of this book.

PS.. I’ve already read it in Russian, now I’ll try ‘Burgin – O’Connor’ one..

By: Beth Anne Martin

Beth Anne Martin — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:22:45 +0000

Thank you for this post! I was wondering about which translation to buy and I appreciate the excerpts.