![]() |
#1 |
Groupie
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 182
Karma: 1253386
Join Date: Nov 2015
Device: none
|
Swiss version of Swiss Family Robinson?
Give me as many versions of this book in as many languages as possible. My German is passable at best, but I'm willing to have a go at it for curiosities’ sake.
I reread this recently in English translation. It differed quite a bit from my memory of the book I read in my youth. It was a Slovene translation, still produced in the communist era, so all the Christian themes were purged. I was aware of this. Rereading it in English was a plausible alternative, as my German is very slow, and I just wanted to have some fun rereading a book that I loved in my youth, expecting to find a different aspect to it. But as I looked into it further, I saw that English translations are far from the original as well. Searching for the reasons behind this, I fell into a rabbit hole of translation business of the past. As far as I know, It was first published in German language. It was based on morality stories written by Johann David Wyss for his children. One of his sons, Johann Rudolf Wyss, at a much later date put it together and published it in two volumes in 1812-1813. Then it was translated into French by Isabelle de Montolieu. This version was greatly expanded from the original, with whole sections added to it, totalling five volumes. In one foreword of English translation, (a lot of current English language e-books follow this version) it is explained that author died and his son authorised Isabelle to finish it, but this explanation makes little sense. Introduction to that edition: Spoiler:
Foreword to another version at Project Gutenberg edition gives a different story: Spoiler:
While this article paints a fuller picture: https://blogs.bl.uk/european/2018/01...-robinson.html Spoiler:
David Wyss was still alive when first German edition was published, he died in 1818, and his son and initial editor, Johann Rudolf Wyss, later published his own continuation of the story. As I understand it, the book became popular, and it was a case of a fight between two parties on how to profit more from it. The initial, two volumes, version was finished, but it left room for continuation. So both Johann Rudolf Wyss and Isabelle de Montolieu wrote their own successors. English translators preferred Isabelle de Montolieu, but on top of going through two languages already, they abridged it extensively as well. It's a bit overwhelming to consider how the initial word fared, with Isabelle extending the work in the first place, and English translators cutting after her. Gutenberg foreword by Anne Wingate mentions that there's no unabridged English version, I'm not looking for a full picture, my curiosity is directed at changes, and reasons for them. The communist version is simple, purge God. French version has family speaking French as opposed to German. In Swiss, father is a pastor. Then there are Disney versions that follow the story from their 1960 film adaptation, and are abridged almost to the level of picture books. Last edited by jackm8; Today at 08:14 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
![]() |
||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
is Anyone working on The Swiss Family Robinson as an Ebook on standardebooks.org? | KindleAZWorKFX | Reading Recommendations | 3 | 04-07-2023 02:42 PM |
Swiss Family Robinson free on Books on Board | AprilHare | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 7 | 02-01-2010 12:52 PM |
Young Adult Wyss, Johann: The Swiss Family Robinson, IMP, v1, 18 Oct 2007. | Patricia | IMP Books | 0 | 10-17-2007 07:55 PM |
Young Adult Wyss, Johann: The Swiss Family Robinson, v1, 18 Oct 2007. | Patricia | Kindle Books | 0 | 10-17-2007 07:51 PM |
Young Adult Wyss, Johann: The Swiss Family Robinson, v1, 18 Oct 2007. | Patricia | BBeB/LRF Books | 0 | 10-17-2007 07:46 PM |