Here we go again...

[Chateaubriand]

The ad said this was a correct translation, faithful to "the original". The cover says it's an objective and critical study. When I open it, the preface declares that this translation focuses not on the prophet, but the artist Nostadamus. Uhuh, so here we go again... Why do I insist on buying books on the internet!?

But a glimpse of hope emerges by the end of the preface; a more scientific approach is to be expected from a student at the Stockholm University, aspiring for a doctor's degree. Pray that the board knows the meaning of science...

/Chateaubriand

[Zep]

Can we have more details, please?

[Chateaubriand]

Nothing to tell, really... This version was first printed in 1962, translated and commented by Ake Ohlmarks and my edition - with an added foreword by Bengt af Klintberg, is from 2001.

Though it doesn't seem to be a "he told it all very clearly"-ish work, I was hoping for a correct translation.

But I checked out this Stockholm doctorate and her work does seem promising.

/Chateaubriand

[Zep]

Sorry, I meant the background to your original post. What are you talking about? I can see Nostadamus and some book mentioned.

I can't laugh at the joke unless I know why it's funny! :)

[Ed]

Sorry, I am clearly missing something. Are you talking about a book you bought? What one is it?

[deBergerac]

Well I hope that person at SU (I guess) knows what she is doing but I suppose there is no good way to translate something that cannot be interpreted until after the event. For that is what we are talking about is it not, a translation of Nostradamus into Swedish?

[Chateaubriand]

Sorry, had to run away to see Matrix Revolutions - the kids insisted...

And yes, I bought a Swedish translation of Nostradamus. Apparently the work being done by the woman at SU is very thorough and her major is French. She's using dictionaries in several languages from that period as cross-reference and so on.

And I find Nostradamus interesting because of his impact through the centuries and I find it even more fascinating that his prophecies are never used to predict events, just being brought out whenever some event has occured. And it's been the same for centuries! A sort of neverending hoax...

So, I long for a correct Swedish translation...

Oh, and I don't know if I intended to joke - it was more of a sigh...

/Chateaubriand

[Chateaubriand]

Got a mail from the woman at Stockholm University today and she hopes to finish her thesis in 2005. The bright side is that her criticism of the book above is similar to my own and she will stick to the 'original', so I hereby predict that

In the year twenty and five
the galant lady from the northern shores
will give the fools a tremble
and the wise shall find an untouched source

Ya thenk?