Which Translation?

(This originally appeared in the Episode 01 extras.)

First of all, I will repeat and recommend as strongly as possible that you read an unabridged edition.

Even though this podcast is in English, if you think you can read it in French, by all means do. That is, without a doubt, the best version, because it’s the one Hugo wrote -- he didn’t speak or write English. If your French is middling, but not fluent, it still might be worth trying. Hugo uses a lot of words -- the book is about 1500 pages long depending on the edition, and has a varied and occasionally antiquated nineteenth-century vocabulary -- but he aches to be understood, which means his language is not esoteric or complicated, even when his subject matter is. My students have often been surprised at how readable he is. Maybe give it a shot, and switch to a translation if it doesn’t work out.

However, this podcast will not assume that you know French. When I quote the book, I will give the French for those who may understand it, as well as my own English translation. I will be re-reading the French edition as I create my content, and the text’s Frenchness will always, inevitably, be close at hand as I comment, including some points that might offer challenges in translation, and deserve more discussion than simply reading your translator’s final choice, or mine.

As for translations, I will translate passages I use here, but am not a professional translator, and have not and will not produce a full translated edition myself. But if you know the French text is out of your reach, you have many versions to choose from, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. A couple of links to comparisons of the translations if you’d like some help choosing:

https://letterpile.com/books/Best-Translations-of-Victor-Hugos-Les-Miserables

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/706700-which-translation

https://owlcation.com/humanities/Best-Translations-of-Victor-Hugos-Les-Miserables

There are also unabridged audio editions that might pair nicely with this podcast for commuters and other devotees of the spoken word, available wherever you get your audiobooks.