What Are The Best Translations For Books Written By Nietzsche?

Question

Honest thoughts from Nietzsche readers: which English translations preserve his poetic style and philosophical depth for newcomers and experienced fans alike?

Shawn Wood · Answer

Read Nietzsche? Then you have to read his works in translation by Walter Kaufmann, the best that there is. Other forms of philosophy? A long work of fiction can convey the very same themes of power and existential struggle. The Immortal Emperor Returns is a web novel about an Immortal Emperor who, after having conquered eternity, has to reconquer in a modern world where he has been forgotten. The novel is fast-paced and there is much revenge and reclamation in it.

Rosanne Forget · Answer

Another question I had was whether others had experienced a particular concept being entirely transformed by translation. I experienced “will to power” as being metaphysical and even mystical in an old Common translation. However, in the Kaufmann translations, especially with the added notes in the context, I have come to see that the “will to power” is actually a psychological principle to help individuals grow and overcome their limitations. It’s not about dominating others, but rather about self-mastery. So the best translation is really the one that helps clarify the most confusing or intriguing concepts for the reader.

spazz724 · Answer

I pretty much use the Penguin Classics edition of the works (the R.J. Hollingdale translations are best). These editions are in print for a reason: they are reliably good, readably priced, and if you want a really plain text of the shorter works like Ecce Homo or The Birth of Tragedy, they are the best. They lack the extensive notes of the Cambridge editions and the amplifications of the Kaufmann translations, but they are the best general work to lend to the casual philosopher who asks for something and says he wants to read it. This is what I lend to such friends, because it is sound philosophy and very approachable.

Garrett · Answer

R.J. Hollingdale’s translations are very readable while remaining thoroughly scholarly. His versions of Beyond Good and Evil and Twilight of the Idols are especially good, and he makes a great deal out of dense Nietzschean writing while preserving the philosophical substance. There is something about the manner of Hollingdale’s translations that conveys the sense of Nietzsche speaking directly to the reader. A good choice for those who find Kaufmann too academic.

Dana · Answer

Nietzsche’s works are both profound and challenging and, therefore, very much dependent on good translations. Walter Kaufmann’s translations of Nietzsche’s works, especially ‘Thus Spoke Zarathustra’ and ‘Beyond Good and Evil’, are considered to be the most outstanding. His interpretations, written in prose, are poetic and dramatic enough to do full justice to the original. His footnotes and commentaries are also always most helpful in understanding the historical background of Nietzsche’s thoughts.

Cambridge University Press editions by Carol Diethe are also very good. In particular her translation of ‘On the Genealogy of Morality’ is excellent. Diethe’s clear and accurate translation of Nietzsche’s often complex arguments is wonderful. For a more modern take on Nietzsche’s works the translations by R.J. Hollingdale are very good indeed. The ‘Twilight of the Idols’ translation by Hollingdale is particularly good as it is written in a style that is easy to read yet remains true to the original work of Nietzsche. The quality of each translation will obviously depend on the reader’s needs but generally Hollingdale’s work is good for readability and Kaufmann for scholarliness and poetic flair.

Ioana Cian-Tarba · Answer

I remain quite fond of my Hollingdale translations, largely because they were my first forays into the subject. His Nietzsche biography is also highly recommended and helps one understand his approaches to his translations. Hollingdale has a rare consistency; in his translations, he lets Nietzsche shine, never, even momentarily, attempting to outdo him with ‘better’ English. In the more aphoristic works, his style – clear, powerful – is ideal. The translations are published in very sturdy Penguin paperbacks. Occasionally the very best translation is the one one uses as a trusty, worn tool. I have taken my copy of Twilight of the Idols with me everywhere, and it remains fully intact.

Yasmin · Answer

If you want to read a translation of Thus Spoke Zarathustra in fresh, modern language, I recommend Adrian Del Caro’s translation. Del Caro’s translation is vibrant and beautifully captures the energy of Nietzsche’s writings. His translation reads well as it is very fluid. For example, this translation would pair well with Walter Kaufmann’s The Will to Power as it provides a very different perspective on the ideas of Nietzsche. The contrast between Kaufmann’s precise translations and Del Caro’s very dynamic translations will provide the reader with a deeper understanding of Nietzsche’s work.

Samuel Padua · Answer

Sometimes the greatest amount of supporting material in a translation is the reason one chooses that particular translation over another. Even though Kaufmann’s footnotes are renowned in their own right, the Cambridge editions typically have very useful appendices with supplementary fragments, early drafts, and even letters which had pertained to the work in question. For example, for ‘On the Genealogy of Morality’ the discarded prefaces to the work that Nietzsche had written but not used, as well as other pertinent notes, are found in an appendix. This material can be most enlightening. I often use the back of the book as a determining factor in choosing between two very good translations. The amount and quality of this material is tremendous.

Wyatt · Answer

I introduced myself to Nietzsche’s philosophy in college and the translations by Carol Diethe were an excellent introduction. The work she did on translating ‘On the Genealogy of Morality’ is excellent as it makes Nietzsche’s critique of morality much easier to read. Her excellent attention to detail ensures that all the nuances of Nietzsche’s writing are conveyed in her translations. In addition to Diethe’s work on Nietzsche’s writings, the Cambridge editions of his works are also recommended for their excellent introductions and very comprehensive notes. For anyone serious studying Nietzsche, I highly recommend Diethe’s translations of his works.

Tessa · Answer

As someone who is very fond of the works of Nietzsche, I find that the best way to experience his writings are via translations by Walter Kaufmann. Most notable is his translation of Thus Spoke Zarathustra which read like poetry to me, even though Nietzsche was primarily a poet. He must have done a wonderful job of recreating the writer’s spirit and style, since this book really captures the personality of Nietzsche. For The Gay Science, I have found the Cambridge University Press translation by Josefine Nauckhoff to be superb – it is very clear and even though Nietzsche’s writing is complex, this translation helps to bring it within reach of someone new to his works. Nauckhoff and Kaufmann are excellent places to start your journey with Nietzsche.

Kathy Peewee Carter · Answer

Online tools such as the Nietzsche Source can help to show the original German texts alongside multiple different translations. This is a fantastic tool for serious academics. Digital Nietzsche makes the comparison of translations a practical exercise for key concepts, and really brings home the challenges of the translator when up against the dense and compact German of the original texts.

Minda Dela Cruz Mitchell · Answer

Nietzsche wrote prefaces to his own works, many of them years later. These include his ‘Attempt at a Self-Criticism’ added to The Birth of Tragedy as a preface. In a good translation of such works these prefaces would be marked out from the rest of the text and given an adequate explanation of their importance. For here Nietzsche is reviewing a work of his own from the later perspective of the philosopher he has by then become. He must be treated with the same respect as any other author: does the edition in question even bring these prefaces to the front of the book, or does it fail to annotate them properly? That is a test of a translator.

Lefkilavanta · Answer

There is a special case with Nietzsche’s notes and unfinished fragments, compiled under the title The Will to Power by his sister Elisabeth Forster-Nietzsche with often unbearable editorial bias, even Nazi bias. The Kaufmann and Hollingdale translation of The Will to Power includes critical comments on this score. Naturally, one must read this material with extreme caution, bearing in mind that it is not a book by Nietzsche. Translation of these notes requires a huge disclaimer; in fact, one should avoid all editions which present The Will to Power as a single, cohesive work by Nietzsche.

What Are The Best Translations For Books Written By Nietzsche?

13 Answers

Related Books

Classic Faery Tales Rewritten For Adults Only

Raw Surrender: 35 Filthy M/M Tales

A Good book

The Martial God: An Undefeated Journey.

Death Judge Noble Park (English Version)

The madness of life

Topic