Translation dispute (Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow - Peter Hoeg)

Name: Billy O'Shea

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Product:	Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow - Peter Hoeg
Date:	22/04/08 (27 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: An exciting tale in an unusual setting

Disadvantages: Implausible plot

I agreed with most of MagdaDH's review, but I must correct one misapprehension. She writes:

"The version I read was translated by Felicity David. There is also another version, in Tiina Nunnally's translation, titled "Smilla's Sense of Snow". I would throughly recommend the version I read as it read wonderfully. I have a strong belief that in great majority of cases the translator should be the native speaker of the language he/she is translating into, and it seems that Ms David is more likely to be a native speaker; plus her title sounds much better!"

In fact, Tiina Nunnally is a native speaker of English, whereas "Felicity David" is a pseudonym for the Danish author, who was dissatisfied with the translation that made him an international success, and insisted on incorporating changes. In my view he should have left well alone, as he hasn't exactly set the world on fire since.

Summary: A slight correction of MagdaDH's review.