Classics and the Western Canon discussion

There are a number of translations of Fear and Trembling into English. These are the main ones, and the ones most easily acquired:

Walsh, Sylvia. Cambridge University Press, 2006
Hannay, Alistair. Penguin Classics, 1986
Hong, Edna and Howard, Princeton University, 1983
Lowrie, Walter. Princeton University, 1941 (later revised)

Any of them are acceptable, though the newer ones are a bit clearer in some respects.

Because of its challenging nature, critical material on Fear and Trembling abounds. I suggest we avoid all of it until we have wrestled with the text for ourselves. Johannes de Silentio in his Preface says that he fears the "enterprising summarizer, the paragraph-gobbler" who would try to systematize his work. He seems to have known beforehand that interpreters would try to package him for easy consumption.

Kierkegaard would say that it isn't a correct interpretation if it isn't yours. For that reason I think that we should refrain from citing secondary sources, at least until everyone has had a chance to digest the material and discuss it.

Kierkegaard wrote this book in a way that resists simplification. The book itself is an argument against simplification, the simplification of faith that he saw in the "Christendom" of his time. So if it seems complicated and confusing, it's not you -- it's him. He wrote it this way for a reason. The only background we need is a familiarity with western culture -- the Judaeo-Christian and western philosophical traditions -- and most of us have a passing familiarity with these. If you don't, you're about to get a good taste of it.

Fear and Trembling is short but rich, so the low page count for each week is a little deceptive. Another odd thing is that Kierkegaard wrote four introductory pieces before getting down to business. The various translators title them a little differently, but the first four sections are identifiable as such.

June 10: Preface, "Tuning up," and "A Tribute to Abraham"

June 17: Preliminary Outpouring from the Heart

June 24: Problem 1 and Problem 2

July 1: Problem 3 and the book as a whole

I am so excited for this!

I have a gift card that carries the Walsh translation, but am currently comparing a few online. Anyone else have thoughts on editions/translations?

I have a copy of the Lowrie translation which I bought years ago. I haven't read it in ages. I don't know how it compares with some of the newer translations. It might be interesting to compare the different translations.

I am reading the translation by Sylvia Walsh, Cambridge University Press 2006. I cannot say anything about its accuracy or compare it to other translations but It seems to be about as straightforward as one could expect.
https://smile.amazon.com/Kierkegaard-...

While it is not synced to the kindle edtion, I am also listening to the Unabridged Audio book from Audible of the same text Narrated by: Mark Meadows.
https://www.audible.com/pd/Fear-and-T...

I’m reading the Penguin Classics ebook and it does have an accessible introduction and good explanatory notes so far (I’ve read everything before Problemata twice).

I already have two critical books about F&T, but I’ll accept the challenge of dealing with the primary text only until the end. So far, I disagree with a lot of Kierkegaard’s characterizations, but I can’t deny that he was an interesting and skilled writer.

Looking forward to the start of conversation!

I have the Penguin Classics, as well, and other than recognizing his name, I know nothing about him or his thought, so looking forward to this.

Personally, I always go with the Hongs translations since they are Kierkegaard scholars. The Howard V. and Edna H. Hong Kierkegaard Library at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, is one of the few research study of Kierkegaard’s work. The library was found from the Hongs private collection they amassed while working on all of the translations of Kierkegaard they did.

Thanks for mentioning that one Mike. That editions sounds about as definitive as it gets. Here is the goodread's link to the Hong translations:
Fear and Trembling/Repetition

I'm still waiting for my book to arrive. Expect me on your coattails!

Ashley wrote: "I'm still waiting for my book to arrive. Expect me on your coattails!"

The Lowrie translation is available online if you want to get a head start. It's not my favorite translation, but it's free!

https://www.religion-online.org/book/...

I’m lucky to be able to read the original, the library had a well kept old edition. He’s so very german in his danish wording in my opnion. Maybe everyone were, or it’s because he looked up to german thinkers.

M wrote: "I’m lucky to be able to read the original, the library had a well kept old edition. He’s so very german in his danish wording in my opnion. Maybe everyone were, or it’s because he looked up to germ..."

He went to Berlin to live and work on two occasions, and he wrote much of F&T on the second. He didn't like Berlin and never felt comfortable there, but it would make sense that it influenced his style.

It's wonderful that you are reading the original. Please let us know if you notice things that our translators might find difficult to convey in English. There's always something we miss in translation.

Came across this discussion of the sacrifice of Isaac this afternoon:
https://billmoyers.com/content/genesi...

Some of you may be interested,

Lily wrote: "Came across this discussion of the sacrifice of Isaac this afternoon:
https://billmoyers.com/content/genesi...

Some of you may be interested,"

Thank you, it was interesting!