Reading & Comparing 3 'Anna Karenina' Translations + picking my favorite!

Hello friends!

I've been wanting to film a video about Anna Karenina translations for ages, and today is finally the day I do so!
Since Anna Karenina is my favorite book, and because I'm a huge Tolstoy fan, one of the questions I get asked the most is, which translation of Anna Karenina do I recommend. I never knew how to answer that question.
In 2020, I first read the book in the Maude translation, which is the version that made me fall in love with Tolstoy in the first place. Then, in 2021, I re-read it in the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation, which I also thoroughly enjoyed!
The only other translation I own is the Constance Garnett translation, though I have yet to read it.
I thought it would be really interesting to comparing these 3 translations, and finally choose my personal favorite.
I also hope that this video will help you in deciding which translation you prefer! I'd love to know your opinion in the comments!

Sending you my warmest wishes,
Carolyn (& Willow) Marie :)

Video mentioned:
Pevear and Volokhonsky discuss Tolstoy in translation -

My Russian Literature video playlist -

My Social Media: CarolynMarieReads

***Want to write to me or send something?
Carolyn Castagna
P. O. Box 773
Greenlawn NY 11740
United States
***Please don't feel like you need to send me anything, but if you'd like to I would be honored!!!*** :)

***About me -
I'm a freelance illustrator who recently graduated from college at the Fashion Institute of Technology with my Bachelors of Fine Arts in Illustration with a minor in English/Writing.
My greatest passion in life is combining my two loves, literature and art!

Happy Reading :)

#russianlit #annakarenina #leotolstoy

[magnifique]

As one who read (and fell in love with) this book in Russian, I can say that Maude translation felt closer to the original. I'm also a big Tolstoy's fan))

[milaces]

I have to show this video to my mum! She's a philologist specialized in russian so i know she's gonna love it 😊

[mayral]

I completely agree about the Maudes! I absolutely fell in love with their translation. So much so that when I was starting to read War and Peace (I had bought a new Penguin translation) all I could think was: "this does not sound like Tolstoy!"

[zissizalana]

I have read many translations of Anna Karenina as well. I prefer the Rosamund Bartlett translation. Anna sounds like Anna in the Bartlett translation. (Bartlett wrote an amazing biography of Tolstoy). Kyril Zinovieff's translation is a close second. Nabokov claimed that all Garnett’s attempts were “dry and flat, and always unbearably demure, ” and that her many translations made their authors sound the same. Yet, the Maudes did meet Tolstoy and became his friends. Louise went over the text line by line with the author. Tolstoy knew English and took great interest in how his work would appear. So...if the translation has the blessing of the it is difficult not to appreciate that translation.

[williamcurcio]

I've read work from all of these translators and my favorite tends to depend on the Author. For Tolstoy I prefer Maude, Dostoevsky I like P&V and for Chekov, Garnett translates his poetic simplicity like no other. We're so fortunate to have so many choices to read these life-changing works!

[BobLikesPizza]

This might be the best booktube video ever!
Each one has certain words or phrases that I prefer over the others. Like, “intrigue” seems to suggest so much more than “affair.” I also prefer “alike” over “resemble”

[chelleandpoppy]

I love Oxford World Classics, so I read the Rosamund Bartlett translation for the book club last summer! I did a bit of research before I picked one. The Bartlett translation was definitely most similar to the P&V translation, i.e. it was very modern. I went with Bartlett/a modern translation over the Maud translation because my brief research told me that while the Maud’s were more true to Tolstoy’s syntax, it could read a bit awkward and I was told stylistic changes in modern translations make it easier to read. That said, hearing you read all three I think they all flowed well with different flavors! Cool video! I love languages and linguistics so I’m way into this haha

[AYVYN]

Didn’t realize how much better the Maude translation was than mine. The opening paragraph perfectly captures the disorder, and the underlying theme of fate. If only the opening sentence was better.

[rachmusic]

Can’t wait to watch this. I’m currently reading Anna Karenina for the first time (Pevear and Volokhonsky translation) and i’m loving it. I’ve also heard some great things about the Bartlett translation which comes in a really cool Oxford World’s Classics edition

[erika]

I began reading AK a few days ago. (Maude). I like it very much. Thank you Carolyn.

[jenniferkate]

This was a fantastic video. You are so well-spoken and it was a joy to listen to you read each translation and to witness your excitement. I've now ordered the Maude translation and can't wait to read it! Love, a new subscriber

[SandrineDamfino]

I'm very fond of your fondness of Leo Tolstoy and Anna Karenina ! He is my favorite author too ! War and Peace is my favorite novel, I have it in several editions. You make me want to re-read Anna Karenina ! And I LOVE your shirt !!!! ❤

[doowopshopgal]

I finished the book A Man Called Ove, one of your suggested readings. You were absolutely right the author is a genius. I laughed hard and I cried hard I gave it a five star hands-down.

[ЕленаКондюрина]

I prefer the translation by Maud according to the first lines.But then I liked modern translation and at last I enjoyed the last translation.Tolstoy is my favourite writer and I am lucky to read Anna Karenina in the original.Your video content is amazing and I love your videos.And I'm proud you enjoy Russian Literature.Not many people understand it.I'll watch these translation again and again.Thank you so much for your love to Tolstoy and your work are motivating me to reread Anna K.Thanks!!!!

[MrVERDERBNISs]

Your voice enchants this book beautifully. I would love to read in along with a full audiobook recording of yours 😊 I bought the Maude translation thanks to your help

[cherryblossomsandwisteria]

Good choice ❤. I too would have chosen the Maude one because, it sounds classic, I was so immersed in it while you were reading and you can find a clear difference between Maude and the second translation. Second translation feels modern. For those who are not into classics because they think the classics are too hard to understand, the second translation is best for them.

[mohammadhajkhalil]

Thank You Carolyn! You really helped me out of the lurch of choosing translation to start this book 😊😊

[CDubya.]

I'd buy the audiobook of you reading it. Beautifully done.

[adrienne]

I read the Pevear and Volokonsky translation. There is also another translator, Rosamond Bartlett. She is on a YouTube video explaining her approach to the translation. I also loved the book!😀

[jenniferalexis]

I think I prefer the P&V translation, thankfully that's the one I purchased without even thinking about translations. It's still on the way.
For an example, I didn't realize "intrigue" meant "affair." I'm not great at reading classics, as much as I want to read the Maude translation, I think I will start with the easier modern version first based on this video.