As much as I can rank Chekov's work, this is indeed one of my favorites. I loved reading your translation; I think it's my favorite in English. I use "think" because I don't think I've read a bad Chekhov translation, as much as I can assess such things without any knowledge of Russian. It doesn't surprise me you love this story, and after reading your first novel, this made it all the more special. Bravo!
I love that you followed Nabokov's method of translation of the precise literary translation for it keeps the meaning of Chekhov 's story perfectly. He also was for keeping Russian syntax and paragraphing, which I did, translating Bunin.
Vanechka, God speed on your quest for asymptoticly approaching perfection. I love you to pieces (you are that good), and I also hate you because you create additional tasks for me. I have taken the liberty of feeding yours and Garnet's translations into chat GPT, and I intend to go over them side by side with a fine-tooth comb, with an obvious intent of eliciting evidence of your vast superiority. (footnote 1: Fine-tooth combs are present in Russian idiom, as well. "proverka na vshivost" (knit-picking) references the fine-tooth comb and means reliability/loyalty check . The phrase is tinged with menace (better not fail), but it connotes none of the sense of gratuitous persnickety enquiry. Footnote 2: Imitation is the highest form of flattery. Footnote 3: May I be so bold as to suggest (before I have even started in earnest) that you have missed an early footnote opportunity - Mironositskoye merits commentary in my mind for its own sake but also because the meaning was either overlooked or entirely lady mondegreened by the generations of Soviet (and perhaps) readers. Footnote 4: apologies for being pedantic, it’s a Russian trait, no? I happen to think of the man in a case as a man specifically in the pencil-case, possibly because I read the story in school and probably had to underline adjective with a wavy line using a pencil). Sorry about completely derailing, more Tourgenev than Chekhov
As much as I can rank Chekov's work, this is indeed one of my favorites. I loved reading your translation; I think it's my favorite in English. I use "think" because I don't think I've read a bad Chekhov translation, as much as I can assess such things without any knowledge of Russian. It doesn't surprise me you love this story, and after reading your first novel, this made it all the more special. Bravo!
Thank you Stefan!! Chekhov is 100% my favourite writer and I am going to translate MORE
Thank you, that was amazing
cheeeers!
Nailed it! You’ve got the magic touch today 🖋️✨❤️
many thanks! <3
I love that you followed Nabokov's method of translation of the precise literary translation for it keeps the meaning of Chekhov 's story perfectly. He also was for keeping Russian syntax and paragraphing, which I did, translating Bunin.
Thank you for reading, Larisa!
Came back to go through all the ones I'm yet to read. An amazing translation as usual!
thank you!
one of my absolute favorites. glad to have an excuse to re-read it. great work!
🫡🫡 cheeeers
There is something majestic about opening an old book and finding that its author understood your century better than most living commentators.
Chekhov’s the best!
Vanechka, God speed on your quest for asymptoticly approaching perfection. I love you to pieces (you are that good), and I also hate you because you create additional tasks for me. I have taken the liberty of feeding yours and Garnet's translations into chat GPT, and I intend to go over them side by side with a fine-tooth comb, with an obvious intent of eliciting evidence of your vast superiority. (footnote 1: Fine-tooth combs are present in Russian idiom, as well. "proverka na vshivost" (knit-picking) references the fine-tooth comb and means reliability/loyalty check . The phrase is tinged with menace (better not fail), but it connotes none of the sense of gratuitous persnickety enquiry. Footnote 2: Imitation is the highest form of flattery. Footnote 3: May I be so bold as to suggest (before I have even started in earnest) that you have missed an early footnote opportunity - Mironositskoye merits commentary in my mind for its own sake but also because the meaning was either overlooked or entirely lady mondegreened by the generations of Soviet (and perhaps) readers. Footnote 4: apologies for being pedantic, it’s a Russian trait, no? I happen to think of the man in a case as a man specifically in the pencil-case, possibly because I read the story in school and probably had to underline adjective with a wavy line using a pencil). Sorry about completely derailing, more Tourgenev than Chekhov
Thank you so much for this.
my pleasure!
omg almost missed this
!!!