Rimbaud Complete (Modern Library)
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Rimbaud Complete (Modern Library)
by Authors:
Arthur Rimbaud , Wyatt Mason
Released: 19 March, 2002
ISBN: 0679642307
Hardcover
Sales Rank: 303,203
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List price:
$24.95
Our price:
$17.47
(You save: $7.48)
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Book > Rimbaud Complete (Modern Library) > Customer Reviews:
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Average Customer Rating: 
Rimbaud Complete (Modern Library) >
Customer Review #1:
 Finally: A Great Translation of Rimbaud
Some unnamed reviewer up above claims "There have been no fully satisfactory translations of the brilliant modernist forerunner Rimbaud." Whoever wrote that clearly didnt read Wyatt Masons new translation of Rimbauds complete works very carefully, because its a lot more that satisfactory: its beautiful. While the Wallace Fowlie translation (the blue one) is dependable, its nothing more than that. Its good if you read French pretty well and need some help. But if you want to try to experience Rimbauds poems in English as Poems, Masons work is the only time Ive found myself reading along and finding that hes caught both the meanings of words and the feeling of the poems (my mother is French, so I have read Rimbaud in the original). Masons introduction is also, far and away, the best brief essay on Rimbauds life and art imaginable, and it also talks really interestingly about translating poetry, and how hes gone about it. This is also the only edition available in English that contains everything Rimbaud wrote. The others, even if they say theyre complete, dont come close. Neither do the other translators. I cant recommend this book enough.
Rimbaud Complete (Modern Library) >
Customer Review #2:
A quite suitable rendition
First, of all I must say that this book is a godsend. Ive been trying to piece my way through the Oeuvres Completes for some time now, and having Jugurtha, the Prologue and some of the other earlier texts from 1866-1870 in English is a great pleasure. Possibly the only thing necessary now is a translation of Akakia Viala and Nicolas Bataillets 1949 "La chasse spirituelle", which is in some French editions. However, despite the wealth of new material which Masons translation gives us, I find it is still lacking when compared to Fowlies. The decision not to print the original French texts on the facing page was a great error, and despite some very excellent renditions of the poems (particularly Memoire), Mason still does not have Fowlies sense to leave the poems as they are and let the words speak for themselves. However, alongside Louise Vareses translations of the prose and of course Fowlie, most probably, this will come to be seen very shortly as one of the three indespensible Rimbaud translations that we have available in English.
Rimbaud Complete (Modern Library) >
Customer Review #3:
Damnation in the form of a rainbow
Having been an avid reader (and admirer) of Rimbaud for the past 6 years, I have to say that I prefer these translations to Fowlies and countless others. Id like to qualify that statement by frankly admitting that I do not like the translator. His introduction is arrogant, prickly, and self promoting. Mason seems bent on convincing us that every image ever created of Rimbaud, the passionate and vicious young poet from Charleville, are all simply projections and fantasies. While Ive obviously seen this from many translators concerning many figures, Mason pulls it off with more pretentiousness than usual. "I dont want the reader to come away with his or her own Rimbaud," he says. As if that were possible:as if it were not part of the creative process to take away our own impressions of a poet or artist. Truth be told, there is very little ambiguity as regards the interpretation of Rimbauds life: it was a vicious search for the absolute through any means necessary, sadly abandoned through poetic burn out. Masons form of analytical pomposity is nothing other than the desire to destroy the passion inherent in Rimbauds life and works by casting doubt on his memory and talent. That said, the translations are catastrophic and deserving of praise, "The Drunken Boat" in particular. The poems speak for themselves. In short, listen to Rimbaud, not Mason.
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Rimbaud Complete (Modern Library) >
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