Granadilla,
This title will come out in paper sometime this year, from Siles Press. Siles has been busy incorporating titles from another press it bought in early 2014, so there's been some delay.
Thanks for your interest.
Bob Sherwood
Translator
My System: Bob Sherwood Translation
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Mar 17, 2015
0
#3
Will the language used in this translation be more direct so to speak? And the translation thus be less correct in way? Without all the fussing around in words and sentences i mean?
The translation does not sacrifice either meaning or clarity. Nimzowitsch never did so, and the English version doesn't, either. It's simply a direct rendering of the German, preserving the feeling and depth of the original. This is what John Watson likes about it, and the reason Jeremy Silman (who writes the forward) first urged me to undertake the work.
Mar 17, 2015
0
#5
For me in the 21 century edition what lacks is clarity. But i am almost certain than it is nimzowich's style. I just don't like it. Others do ofcourse. A translator can hardly improve that.
It takes him 5 sentences what another can say in 1.
That horrible 21st century edition is not Nimzowitsch's style. Far from it. He was a man of culture and a good writer. This latest translation preserves Nimzowitsch's style, which is eminently readable.
This is generally considered to be a sterling example of Nimzowitchian style. It has been said that Aron Nimzowitsch, himself, thoroughly enjoyed it.
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-analysis/a-chess-parody-an-ingenious-example-of-my-system
Translation is something I'm interested in. Bob, the review quotes you saying, "Nimzowitsch makes a conscious effort to be clear and helpful, and often exudes a human warmth toward the reader that the more technical and bloodless renderings of his work fail to convey. Nimzowitsch is an interesting guy. He is profound, emotionally sensitive to the point of an almost dangerous vulnerability."
Could you give an example where that vulnerability comes through in your translation but not in the other one?
colibas,
Thanks for your question. All the vulnerabilities were excised from the better-known, earlier translations. One such passage, from the pawn chain chapter in My System, runs:
"This was my line of thinking at that time, a most revolutionary conception that I arrived at after an intensive study of the problem of the blockade—and which did not fail to arouse a storm of protest. In particular, people were chagrined by my postulate, 'The watchword is: mutual attacks against the bases of the respective pawn chains.' We cannot fail to quote from an article by Alapin, in which he rages against my theory. The old song: An innovator! This criticism is offensive as hell." (Emphasis added.)
There are other such passages, in both System and Praxis, where someone has hit a nerve.
I haven't checked the 21st century edition to see what is rendered there (if anything), as there's no real reason to own that version.
Bob
Thanks, Bob, that's really interesting. It reminds me of some recent debates around the translations of Sigmund Freud. The early translators were only interested in the scientific content, so they removed or disguised the more humanistic moments. Perhaps the earlier translators likewise were only interested in the chess content, and they lost the person of Nimzowitsch.
If you ever write more about your translation, I'd love to read it.
The price has been lowered to $19.38 but the release date is now in July.
My System & Chess Praxis:
His Landmark Classics in One Edition
Paperback – July 15, 2016
I too look forward to reading the new double edition. Despite my rudimentary German, it was clear to me that previous translations left so many interesting parts out.
Having said that however, I think that many English readers would be put off by Nimzowitsch's style if all they cared about were learning some chess. And the sample passage given by Bob above -- while extremely revelatory and amusing -- would not be welcomed by some readers.
Evidently the Sherwood translation of My System is available now for only $13.99 for Ipod ereaders called e+books.
http://eplusbooks.com/published-books/80-my-system-by-aron-nimzowitsch
Looks like New In Chess will bring it out in July and not May. (I always thought May was bit soon, considering what else they had in their print queue.) I'm looking forward to their nice, clean layout. And having a book published by NIC always brings a warm feeling.
[COMMENT DELETED]
The book is now available from New In Chess. Amazon will start carrying it in a couple of months. NIC did a nice job laying it out.
Jun 26, 2016
0
#17
I have a copy of My System translated into Swedish in my bookshelf, although I also want a copy in English. Which paperback versions of My System and Chess Praxis are decent?
"... Quality Chess uses the 2005 Kurt Rattmann Edition (henceforth 'Rattmann'); as a basis for their [new translation of Aron Nimzowitsch's classic My System]; ... Nimzowitsch wrote My System in German, so this is presumably very close to the original. ... I've read considerable chunks of Rattman, and can say that My System is delightful to read in German, much more so than in the English translations under consideration. ... [The softcover translation of My System from David McKay, the hardcover Bell & Sons, and the Lou Hays softcover] are all the same translation, by Philip Hereford, with extremely small differences ... Interestingly, the Hereford translation (henceforth 'Hereford'), has 50 complete annotated games listed in the back, but Rattman and QCE have only 41 annotated games, at least they are numbered as such. This is probably mostly due to the way the books are organised and where the material lies. That is, QCE and Rattmann mix examples, mostly partial, into the text in the order that Nimzowitsch presumably did. Thus they haven't numbered many segments of games interspersed in the book. ..." - IM John Watson (2007)
http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/my-new-cds-and-somebody-elses-system
The Sherwood translation also has 41 numbered games (and other material without numbers) "interspersed in the book".
https://www.newinchess.com/Shop/Images/Pdfs/9027.pdf
John Watson reviewed this translation at the end of last year and liked it a lot:
http://www.theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/john-watson-book-review-108-of-eplus-books-part-2-nimzowitsch-classics
e+Chess hasn't published it yet, though. I would be happy to buy a paper copy of it if it was availalble.
Does anyone have any more information about this translation and when it might be available? Also, what is your favourite translation of My System, and why?