Where can I read Alfred Birnbaum's translation of Murakami's Norwegian Wood?

May 5, 2009 10:37 AM

Where can I read Alfred Birnbaum's translation of Murakami's Norwegian Wood?

I've read the newer translation a few times and really like it, but whenever I google around it seems people always say "you should only read the Birnbaum translation" or something to that extent. I guess I should break this down into two parts:

A) Are those people just pretentious bookworms who happened upon the original translation, or is there really something better/different between the two?

B) If it's so good, where can I get it? I don't care about collecting it or anything, I'd just like to read it. Even an online copy would be fine with me...

It's really too bad because I remember seeing the little books at my library in Japan, but there were so many other books I wanted to read, so I never picked them up...

posted by phaedrus441 to media & arts (9 comments total)

the last half of this article describes some of the stylistic differences between Rubin and Birnbaum. Personally, it's tough to say which one is "better." Both translators have their style, and comparing them would be like debating the merits of Speyside and Islay scotches -- more reflective of the viewers preferences than the subjects merits.

With that said, I have a copy of the Birnbaum translation that I picked up from a Kinokuniya bookstore in San Francisco's Japantown in the 90s, and I do prefer it to Rubin's version. Perhaps, since they were intended as supplementary textbooks for Japanese students in their English courses, there may be some local English language schools that would stock a copy?
posted by bl1nk at 11:05 AM on May 5

You have probably read this already, but the Wikipedia article on the novel lists a few differences between the two English translations. According to this news report (cited in the Wikipedia article), the Birnbaum translation "was produced only for distribution in Japan, complete with notes for students learning English." Given the outrageous prices I have seen for a copy of the Birnbaum translation, I'd say your money would be better spent learning Japanese than seeking out this obscure translation.
posted by Houyhnhnm at 11:09 AM on May 5

Look up the Birnbaum edition in worldcat. It should list the closest libraries owning it.
posted by gyusan at 11:48 AM on May 5

Amazon has 2 used, one for $40.
posted by scazza at 12:00 PM on May 5

Heh, I have the translation sitting on my shelf.
posted by KokuRyu at 12:31 PM on May 5

Personally, I really prefer Rubin.
Birnbaum's translations are maybe more flashy, but he uses such American phrases that I am constantly wondering what Murakami REALLY said.
I guess, as bl1nk says, it's a matter of preference.
posted by exceptinsects at 1:47 PM on May 5

The article bl1nk links to points out that the short story collection The Elephant Vanishes has a short story which is basically the first chapter of The Wind-up Bird Chronicle translated by Birnbaum, so you can compare it to the Rubin translation of the whole book. Personally I can't stand Birnbaum; I agree with exceptinsects that he writes with a particularly American voice which non-Americans may find almost intolerable (I do). Rubin has a sort of cold, detached style which seems to me to really fit with Murakami's stories in a way that Birnbaum's almost folksy translation just doesn't.

I haven't read Birnbaum's Norwegian Wood, though. But if you want to compare Murakami's various translators, The Elephant Vanishes is great.
posted by A Thousand Baited Hooks at 4:18 AM on May 7

This is a great example to compare Rubin & Birnbaum’s styles. It's the opening sentence of Wind-up Bird Chronicle. The official Murakami site is one of my favourites—worth exploring if you haven’t been yet.

Sorry can't help you with finding an actual copy for you to read, as am researching that myself—how I found this thread—but will let you know when I find something.
posted by Smiler* at 9:56 PM on May 13

Nice answers, thanks guys. After reading more critical reviews of the translation style, I'm not too worried about finding a copy, though I'm still on the lookout. If anybody else finds one, and wouldn't mind loaning it out for a bit, let me know (I'll gladly do the same).
posted by phaedrus441 at 7:14 AM on May 14