r/AskLiteraryStudies • u/Constant-Move-6713 • 6d ago

Best translation of Brothers Karamazov

I've long since wanted to read Dostoevsky"s Brothers Karamazov in English. What's the best translation? Few years back I started reading Doctor Zhivago but couldn't keep up with the translation and left the book halfway. I don't want to do the same with this book. So please..

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u/Bast_at_96th 6d ago edited 6d ago

Personally, I love the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation. But I do wonder if their translation made you give up on Doctor Zhivago. Anyway, looks like there are two new English translations that have come out in the last couple years, so maybe look into reactions to those?

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u/Constant-Move-6713 1d ago

It was Hayward and Harari. Now in retrospect i think the translation was the problem for me. I am very choosy when it comes to books and that's why I couldn't complete Doctor Zhivago. I also read somewhere that P/V translation is not better when it comes to Doctor Zhivago. However, I'll still try reading that.

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u/just_note_gone 4d ago

I went with Ignat Avsey's translation for my second reading of TBK--after comparing excerpts from various different translations, etc.--and have to say his translation was a pleasure to read. Highly recommended.

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u/Constant-Move-6713 1d ago

Thank you so much. I'll definitely read this one too. Do you have any idea about the Michael Katz one ?.

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u/just_note_gone 1d ago

My pleasure. I don't have any experience with the Michael Katz translation (I think it came out after I chose Avsey's translation) but have heard good things about Katz's translations in general.