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English translations of Verne

From: Arthur B. Evans <aevans2~at~tds.net>
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 19:59:27 -0500
To: "Jules Verne Forum" <jvf~at~Gilead.org.il>

Dear Nejat (and other Vernians),

There are 4 different English translations of LES ENFANTS DU CAPITAINE GRANT:
1. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1873 - trans. unknown - published in 1 vol. - title: IN SEARCH OF THE CASTAWAYS
2. London: Ward, Lock and Tyler, 1876 - trans. unknown - published in 3 vols. - titles: THE MYSTERIOUS DOCUMENT, ON THE TRACK, AMONG THE CANNIBALS
3. London: Routledge, 1876 - trans. unknown - published in 3 vols. - titles: VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD: SOUTH AMERICA, VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD: AUSTRALIA, VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD: NEW ZEALAND
4. London: Arco, 1964 - trans. unknown, ed. I.O. Evans - published in 2 vols. - titles: THE MYSTERIOUS DOCUMENT, AMONG THE CANNIBALS
None of these English translations is perfect. The last one is the worst. All except the last one are in the public domain. I think that the Routledge edition is probably the best. (Note: the 1911 Parke collection [ed. Charles F. Horne] recycled a heavily edited version of the Routledge translation but used the title of the Lippincott edition. This is the translation that Gutenberg scanned and that Zvi has posted on his website.)

There are 3 different English translations of DEUX ANS DE VACANCES:
1. New York: Munro, 1889 - trans. unknown - title: A TWO YEAR'S VACATION
2. London: Sampson Low, 1889 - trans. unknown - title: ADRIFT IN THE PACIFIC
3. London: Arco, 1965 - trans. unknown, ed. I.O. Evans - published in 2 vols. - titles: ADRIFT IN THE PACIFIC, SECOND YEAR ASHORE
The Olga Marx translation titled A LONG VACATION (Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1967) is severely abridged--less than 25% of the original--and does not deserve to be mentioned. Of the three translations above, the last one is the worst. Of the other two (both in the public domain), I like the Munro version, but I haven't really seen a complete copy of the Sampson Low yet since the one I have is an abridged "budget" version.

I hope this is helpful to you.

If the Forum will forgive a plug: the Primary Bibliography at the end of both THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND and our recent THE MIGHTY ORINOCO in the Wesleyan UP "Early Classics of Science Fiction" series lists the "recommended" and the "not recommended" English translations for most of Verne's works. Within the next year (when I can find the time!), I hope to publish a lengthy article about Verne's English translations. In the interim, when asked, I'm happy to share with the Forum whatever information I have about them.

Best wishes,
Art Evans


  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Superonline
  To: jvf~at~Gilead.org.il
  Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 4:04 PM
  Subject: questions regarding English tranlations of Grant and vacances


  1. The anonymous English translation of "Les enfants du Capitaine Grant - In Search of the Castaways" contains a number of mistakes and skipped sentences although not of crucial importance. Is there a word-for-word English translation - and if there is, is it in public domain?

  2. Is there a reliable English translation of "Deux ans de vacances" (I know of one by a Ms. Marx, but have not read it) - and if there is, is it in public domain?

  3. I am asking if they're in public domain, because I want to post free eBooks (not html texts) of them on my website. Nothing commercial!

  Nejat Bayramoglu
Received on Wed 26 Feb 2003 - 03:01:37 IST

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