The Thomas Mann Group discussion

This thread is to discuss recommended editions and translations of Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family.

There really isn't much ground for debate, the Woods translations have become, thankfully, the gold standard for the Thomas Mann in english endeavor. Contrasting this with the baroque stiffness of previous editions, Woods maintains traces of idiom which are central to this epic of stations and mixed fortunes.

Thanks Jonfaith! For group members wondering which is the Woods translation, here it is: Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family. It's also available in paperback: Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family and as an ebook.

My library has the Woods translation, thankfully. Not sure about buying until I check it out. But I think I want to give this a try.

Article from the NYT on the John E. Woods translation.

Paragraphs 3 & 4 may contain spoilers, but the rest of the article explains what is special in this translation versus the previous one by Helen T. Lowe-Porter.

http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/09/21...

Kalliope wrote: "Article from the NYT on the John E. Woods translation.

Paragraphs 3 & 4 may contain spoilers, but the rest of the article explains what is special in this translation versus the previous one by Helen T. Lowe-Porter."

Thanks for this. My local library (i.e., not my university library) only has the Lowe-Porter one in English. It also has a DVD of the 2007 film adaptation.

For German speakers, the e-book is definitely free on Kindle (and I assume elsewhere). There's also an annotated German version on Kindle (I have no idea what the annotations are).

I trust Gundula, so I'll probably end up buying the Kobo e-book edition, which looks to be the Woods translation.

Tim wrote: "Kalliope wrote: "Article from the NYT on the John E. Woods translation.

Paragraphs 3 & 4 may contain spoilers, but the rest of the article explains what is special in this translation versus the p..."

Tim, I've never read the book in English, but if the Woods editions supposedly keeps traces of the original idiom, then that's the one I would choose.

I meant trusting you about the book itself, not the translation. I likely won't have access to the university library in May (which I guess probably has the Woods translation) so I'll have to buy it. I checked for an audio version and couldn't find one on Audible, but there are other Mann books there.

Tim wrote: "I meant trusting you about the book itself, not the translation. I likely won't have access to the university library in May (which I guess probably has the Woods translation) so I'll have to buy i..."

The book is great :-)

Gundula wrote: "Tim wrote: "Kalliope wrote: "Article from the NYT on the John E. Woods translation.

Paragraphs 3 & 4 may contain spoilers, but the rest of the article explains what is special in this translation ..."

Yes, that is what the NYT article says. The Woods tries to render the idioms and has no omissions.

my copy is a british publication translated by lowe-porter. i'm gonna go with it though...can't imagine it will make that much difference to the story.

Just got the book I ordered today and it was the Lowe-Porter translation. Oh well, it will have to make do.

There is this AudioBook for the German edition:

http://www.amazon.de/Buddenbrooks-Tho...

It is read by several actors.

Kalliope wrote: "There is this AudioBook for the German edition:

http://www.amazon.de/Buddenbrooks-Tho...

It is read by se..."

That sounds wonderful, but I've been buying far too many books.

I just joined this group read, and the book on my shelf is the Lowe-Porter translation, but I'll check the library for the Woods edition. Meanwhile I can get started.

I had to order a newer version of the German edition because when I took my copy out of the bookshelf, it started to completely fall apart. Hopefully, the oder won't take too long getting to Canada, sigh (until it arrives, I am stuck with the one that is falling apart, I guess I have to make sure, I don't lose any of the pages).

That's what happened to my Lowe-Porter Magic Mountain and I had to move to the Woods. Old cheap paperbacks, they are not exactly made to last.

Lobstergirl wrote: "That's what happened to my Lowe-Porter Magic Mountain and I had to move to the Woods. Old cheap paperbacks, they are not exactly made to last."

It was a used paperback when I bought it at university, so I'm not all that surprised.

Kalliope wrote: "There is this AudioBook for the German edition:

http://www.amazon.de/Buddenbrooks-Tho...

It is read by se..."

This is actually an abridged version, partly dramatized and partly narrated. But very effective. To be listened after having read the complete text, either in sections or when finished.

I've started with the Lowe-Porter translation, because that's what was in the library. Stupidly, I'd assumed that there'd be an e-book I could access, but I couldn't find one in English - or in French for that matter. I've ordered a copy of the Woods translation, which should arrive in a week or two.

I bought an e-book copy of the Woods translation (from Kobo) so you should be able to find that somewhere.

Tim wrote: "I bought an e-book copy of the Woods translation (from Kobo) so you should be able to find that somewhere."

The problem with ebooks is where you live or in which country do you have your credit card domiciled.

That's certainly true. Of course it happens with other kinds of books as well. I'm constantly annoyed that Audible doesn't have the Jasper Fforde Thursday Next series available in Canada (except the most recent ones).

I was trying to point out that there is an e-book version of the Woods translation, I wasn't sure if Kim was only checking in the library's e-book collection.

Tim, I have a Kindle and Amazon doesn't have an English version which is available where I live. Nor is there an English version which I can download from Gutenberg, or from anywhere else that I've been able to find.

Yes, the Woods is not available in eformat in Europe either.

The Woods translation is available on Nook.

It's at least available in the US Kindle store at,

http://www.amazon.com/Buddenbrooks-De...

This appears to be same one I bought.

No good for me, unfortunately. I get the message "This title is not currently available for purchase". Damn those international copyright agreements.

Kim wrote: "No good for me, unfortunately. I get the message "This title is not currently available for purchase". Damn those international copyright agreements."

I know, it sure sucks. Just like DVDs having certain regions, sigh.

Mala wrote: "Kalliope wrote: "Yes, the Woods is not available in eformat in Europe either."

Kal I have the Woods translation in epub format- anyone who would like to have a copy,shd message me their email addr..."

Oh, that is wonderful. Kim should be interested. Will send her a PM.

I already have it, Mala, thank you.

I'm reading the Hayman biography and in it he says what a terrible translator Helen Lowe-Porter was. He speaks specifically about Death in Venice and says she totally misses when he's being ironic, and she misunderstsands some things and ignores other things she doesn't understand. He writes that for years, English readers were confused about how the story ended, because she hadn't bothered to translate the last sentence of the penultimate paragraph of the story, which is critical to understanding it.

Mala wrote: "Kal I have the Woods translation in epub format- anyone who would like to have a copy,shd message me their email address ..."

I'll do that. Thanks Mala.

One point the Hayman bio made several times was how inadequate a translator Helen Lowe-Porter was. Why didn't Mann press for a better translator, you have to wonder.

Lobstergirl wrote: "I'm reading the Hayman biography and in it he says what a terrible translator Helen Lowe-Porter was. He speaks specifically about Death in Venice and says she totally misses when he's being ironic..."

I bought the Neugroschel translation of Death in Venice, but if you read David Luke's introduction to his translation (at Amazon.com in the "Look Inside" link, starting at Roman number page lix), he doesn't hold back in revealing his disdain for Lowe-Porter's translations.

There is now the Grosse Kommentierte Frankfurter Ausgabe, which I can warmly recommend. It's well worth spending some more money and getting the volume of text-critical comments that accompanies each text-volume.