3 ms·

I would recommend to not read most of these originals. New editions modernize the language and are well worth the money to buy or read at subscription services.

aeneasmackenzie 4y ago
"modernize the language"? People still buy Chaucer in old (or middle, whatever) English.
- AtNightWeCode 4y ago
  Poe too, I actually had a phrase about poetry in my original comment that I removed cause not generally interesting.
solardev 4y ago
Not being familiar with the literature world, are the "new editions" typically standardized, or are there many competing new editions for a given title? How do you tell which one(s) are the higher quality new editions?
- AtNightWeCode 4y ago
  There is no standard as far as I know. Anybody can get hold of ISBN series so there is a torrent of releases for old literature.
richardjs 4y ago
Standard Ebooks does modernize language; it's step 14 on the production guide[1]. [1] https://standardebooks.org/contribute/producing-an-ebook-step-by-step https://standardebooks.org/contribute/producing-an-ebook-ste...
- hombre_fatal 4y ago
  It changes things like to-day to today which doesn’t help much if you struggle with old grammar.
loughnane 4y ago
A counterpoint: reading older versions strengthens your ability to read across different eras. If you rely on reading versions converted to modern usage your scope narrows drastically. In any case, older translations aren't insurmountable. Here's a translation of plato's _Republic_ by Benjamin Jowett, which was started c.1856. To my eye it looks comfortably readable. I went down yesterday to the Piraeus with Glaucon the son of Ariston, that I might offer up my prayers to the goddess; and also because I wanted to see in what manner they would celebrate the festival, which was a new thing. I was delighted with the procession of the inhabitants; but that of the Thracians was equally, if not more, beautiful. When we had finished our prayers and viewed the spectacle, we turned in the direction of the city; and at that instant Polemarchus the son of Cephalus chanced to catch sight of us from a distance as we were starting on our way home, and told his servant to run and bid us wait for him. The servant took hold of me by the cloak behind, and said: Polemarchus desires you to wait.

aeneasmackenzie 4y ago

"modernize the language"? People still buy Chaucer in old (or middle, whatever) English.

AtNightWeCode 4y ago
Poe too, I actually had a phrase about poetry in my original comment that I removed cause not generally interesting.

solardev 4y ago

Not being familiar with the literature world, are the "new editions" typically standardized, or are there many competing new editions for a given title? How do you tell which one(s) are the higher quality new editions?

AtNightWeCode 4y ago
There is no standard as far as I know. Anybody can get hold of ISBN series so there is a torrent of releases for old literature.

richardjs 4y ago

Standard Ebooks does modernize language; it's step 14 on the production guide[1]. [1] https://standardebooks.org/contribute/producing-an-ebook-step-by-step https://standardebooks.org/contribute/producing-an-ebook-ste...

hombre_fatal 4y ago
It changes things like to-day to today which doesn’t help much if you struggle with old grammar.

loughnane 4y ago

A counterpoint: reading older versions strengthens your ability to read across different eras. If you rely on reading versions converted to modern usage your scope narrows drastically. In any case, older translations aren't insurmountable. Here's a translation of plato's _Republic_ by Benjamin Jowett, which was started c.1856. To my eye it looks comfortably readable. I went down yesterday to the Piraeus with Glaucon the son of Ariston, that I might offer up my prayers to the goddess; and also because I wanted to see in what manner they would celebrate the festival, which was a new thing. I was delighted with the procession of the inhabitants; but that of the Thracians was equally, if not more, beautiful. When we had finished our prayers and viewed the spectacle, we turned in the direction of the city; and at that instant Polemarchus the son of Cephalus chanced to catch sight of us from a distance as we were starting on our way home, and told his servant to run and bid us wait for him. The servant took hold of me by the cloak behind, and said: Polemarchus desires you to wait.