@PercyButtons3 @GeneseGrill

Of course, in the end it's a subjective choice. My preference for the old is because of examples like the following, from the very first chapter:

> They obviously belonged to a privileged section of society, their good breeding being apparent in their clothes, their bearing and their manner of conversing. They had their initials significantly embroidered on their underclothing. And likewise – that is to say, not outwardly displayed, but, as it were, in the exquisite underlinen of their minds – they knew who they were and that they were in their proper place in a capital city that was also an imperial residence.

The first time I read this, the adverb "significantly" in "significantly embroidered" really hit me. Not only it somehow shows the perspective of these two people, but has also a sarcastic undertone. Without this adverb, which is in the original German ("bedeutsam"), that sentence loses much of its wit.

That was the older, E. Wilkins & E. Kaiser's translation. The new one by S. Wilkins & B. Pike runs as follows:

> They clearly belonged to a privileged social class, with their distinguished bearing, style of dress, and conversation, the initials of their names embroidered on their underwear, and just as discreetly, which is to say not for outward show but in the fine underwear of their minds, they knew who they were and that they belonged in a European capital city and imperial residence.

That significant "significantly" is gone in this translation, despite being in the original German. No idea why Wilkins & Pike omitted it.

There are also other subtle differences. For instance the German openly says "In the manner in which they were conversing" ("der Art, wie sie miteinander sprachen"), rather than just "conversation". The latter is less precise and might be instead be taken to refer, say, to the *topic* of conversation rather than its manner. Other example: the "European" appearing in the newer translation is *not* in the original.

Anyway, this is just a typical example of why I prefer the older translation.

Enjoy this outstanding novel!

#robertmusil #themanwithoutqualities #dermannohneeigenschaften