David Rice’s Reviews > The Idiot: A New Translation > Status Update

So i just started part 4 and just like at the beginning of part 3 he digresses for a few pages to explain types of people and their involvement in the story. In part 3 it was practical vs original persons and now it’s ordinary people in 4. He’s quite good at capturing thoughts about these things.

Well part two has been a bit of a change from part one. It is a bit harder to stick with. However, I will continue to persevere with the hope it will return to more of the feel of BK or C&P but more slowly than before.

Finished part one. Started a bit slow but my oh my the typical Dostoevsky twists and turns in the plot are in full swing now.

Well, though the rabbit trail of reading Don Quixote was tempting, I decided I didn’t want to wait to read the Idiot. 1st chapter down. This translation reads well so far.

I have read all the introductory material, all by Katz, and find his writing style very readable and helpful and am hopeful this will extend to his translation. There is a helpful list of main characters. Unfortunately, Katz mentions in the intro that Dostoevsky was very much preoccupied with ‘Don Quixote’ and it played a part in the character development in the Idiot. Should I go down the rabbit trail?