Customer Reviews

Le Retour du Roi (Le Seigneur des Anneaux, Tome III)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

After reading the English version first, I went on to read this. I have to say, the wordplays for the names in the French version are quite amusing: "Rogue" for Snape, "Serpentard" for Slytherin, "Croutard" for Scabbers, and so on. On the other hand, it's not a complete translation of the original, and one gets the sense that either the translator was in a rush or couldn't be bothered. There are snippets of conversation, and minor characters (like Dean Thomas) who are left out of the French version. Then there are some slight alterations of the plot itself. For instance, the Hogwarts house system (and their characteristics!) isn't first mentioned by Malfoy and explained by Hagrid, but happens after Harry arrives at Hogwarts, and in only a partial manner. I wouldn't be so picky about details normally, but what bothered me about this is that often in the Harry Potter series what seems a tiny detail in one book later has significance in following books, you might not get a complete picture with the French version.

I must admit that i didn't read this book as closely as the other reviewer, carefully comparing sections to see if each was the same in the French version as in the English. I just know that it reads very well from start to finish; the plays on words are very clever; the choice of idiomatic expressions are quite good; the line drawings on each chapter heading are funny; and at the end there's an additional bonus not found in the English version...a very good biographical sketch about the author and the illustrator. I felt that the translation served the story well, and of course the story is wonderful!

I was disappointed to find that this translation was heavily abridged. Many of the funniest descriptions were omitted.

I'm a HUGE Harry Potter fan, and a beginning French student. Because of that I did not comprehend every word, but it was lots of fun to see how things were changed when put into French (Draco Malfoy became Drago Malefoy), and know exactly what is happening. I was dissapointed that many parts were unnecessarily cut out. Some I noted were the confronation when Harry, Ron and Hermione are under the invisiblity cloak while going to the trapdoor, and Mrs. Weasley first telling Harry how to get on to platforn nine and three-quarters. I recommend this book to all French students as a fun way to study French, and I learned a ton of new words.

Since this a review for the french edition, let's speak in french. Ce bouquin est génial. Il suffit de plonger dedans pour ne plus le lacher. Je ne sais pas qui l'aime le plus, moi ou mon fils. And now, a quick one in english : READ THIS BOOK, even if you're not a kid (especially if you're not a kid)!

Ok, so maybe the translation was bad, but I can't judge that against a wonderful book. After reading the English version I got the French book just for fun since I'm taking French at school. All I have is one suggstion: read the English book before reading the French transalation. It really helped me understand things better. No matter what language you read it in, you're in for a real treat!

This is a terrible translation of a really good book. The translator appears to become bored with the story at various places and starts leaving out entire paragraphs and combining parts of others, interrupting the flow of the story. I can not imagine how such a bad translation made its way into print.

This was almost a direct translation, word by word. It came out exactly like the English version, and nothing seems to be missing except for maybe two or three sentences (and believe, me, I know the book very well). I especially loved the names: Poufsouffle for Hufflepuff, Serpentard for Slytherin, etc. If you know enough French, then definitely read this!

The world of Harry Potter is magical and enthralling in any language. Many reviewers have criticized the omissions in translation. It should be noted that an accurate and interesting book cannot be translated to another language verbatim. Many bits of humor would be lost in unnatural descriptions. Instead, the translator appended when needed to make a sound linguistic and cultural switch. Enjoyable for Francophones and native english-speakers with good french reading abilities.

Ce livre exceptionel doit etre lu! Ce petie garcon, Harry Potter, apprend qu'il est un grand sorcier est entre dans un monde de reves et de magie.