Customer Reviews

The Fat and the Thin (Le Ventre de Paris)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a great book about the life around Les Halles in 19th century Paris. It looks like there is no other translation than this one by Ernest Vizetelly from over 100 years ago (correct me if I am wrong). Therefore, when another reviewer below writes "but there are several mistakes in translation" and "there is an entire section in which the translator removed a description of Zola's, because he thinks the English audience wouldn't be interested", then this is certainly correct, but as long as nobody translates this book again, we will have to live with this. And the reader should not forget that E. Vizetelly was Zola's "official" translator, his translations were the only ones authorized by Zola, they knew each other personally very well and helped each other during hard times, and some of the old-worldish British 19th century linguistic charme that Vizetelly used for this translation (and his other Rougon-Macquart translations) cannot be reproduced by any modern, 21st century translator. His Zola translations are classics, with all their faults!

This is not a review, but news:
Oxford World Classics is set to release a new translation in November 2007, under the title "The Belly of Paris"
ISBN: 978-0-19-280633-8

I am unsure if this book is available in English trans from someone other than Ed Vit. and Mondial book publishers, but there are several mistakes in translation that are more oversights and bad editing than any real translational problem between English/French. As well, there is an entire section in which the translator removed a description of Zola's, because he thinks the English audience wouldn't be interested. Incase he's reading this, I was interested. Zola is an excellent observer, that's part of the charm of his writing, his fabulous descriptions that allow the reader to nearly take part in an event for which they were not present, the descriptions are so detailed and interesting. To have instead an astrisk by Ed telling me at the bottom of the page that my sentiments couldn't take the brutal description...if there isn't a new translation, there needs to be one and a better edited version too!

That said, of course, even shoddy trans and editing mistakes can't ruin Zola. I am half way through and just like all others this novel immediately presents great characters that make you curious for more and keep you hooked until the end!!

a translated book can be tricky to read.does the translation reflect what the author intentions?zola wanted to write about food/comfort in 19th century paris.this english translations relects his ideas effectively.

Naturalism at its best. Zola never fails to ignite the senses with his amazingly gritty sense of prose. I can't get enough of him!