Jules Verne Forum

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Re: Rating/translations

From: Ralf Tauchmann <ralf.tauchmann~at~t-online.de>
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2000 14:45:23 +0200
To: jvf~at~math.technion.ac.il

Roger W Torstenson schrieb:
> and I did enjoy Keraban when I read it; I remember chuckling through several
> episodes. Another book of this variety was The Thompson Travel Agency which
> I did not enjoy -- at least in the English translation, this is an extremely
> boring read despite its attempt at lightheartedness.

Dear fellow Vernians, dear Roger,

I have never read the Thompson Travel Agency. As to Keraban, I needed three
attemps before I was able to get through the first three chapters, but then I
was "trapped and entrained", if I can say so in English.

What I feel is so important about Jules Verne is that his books are able to
enter hearts - and especially at a point of time (late childhood, early youth)
when a big and deep interest needs to be fed and when some guidance is urgently
needed. What Jules Verne gave me, personally, was my big wish and a lasting
motivation for a couple of things, and learning the French language was on top
of all. And there is another aspect: Jules Verne is no fast food, one needs an
initial effort and some persistence to read his novels. But this effort is made
by those enjoying what they are reading. That is why I regret to see that quite
a lot of abridged versions are offered today especially to young readers. Do
editors underestimate the capacity of interest of today's teenagers? Personally,
I was always enthousiastic about the wide scenerie, the large setting of the
story, more than about the acting characters (too often rather bloodless, except
for Phileas Fogg and Keraban). Too often, story bones are today offered without
the original flesh...

Sorry for introducing these very personal remarks, but that is how I understand
Jules Verne. The word "enjoy" is a major clue to this author, and I thank Roger
for having used it in his reply.

Kind regards

Ralf Tauchmann
(Radebeul, Germany)
Received on Mon 03 Jul 2000 - 15:46:48 IDT

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