based as hell, I have Lés Mis, The Social Contract, Nausea by Sartre, and The Flowers of Evil all in their original French. Granted, that’s because I was trying to learn French in college…
I bought a copy of Das Kapital in German a couple of weeks ago. Second hand. It was too cheap to pass up. (Equivalent of $3.)
I don’t speak or read German.
But I’ve set myself the challenge now! Might take me a few years to get there.
This tactic worked for Spanish. I got Losurdo’s book on Stalin in Spanish because there was no English translation at the time. I tried reading it about a year ago and didn’t quite get enough out of it, so I’ll pick it up again later. I’m about to open El Estado y la Revolución. Another cheap used copy I couldn’t miss. Should be easier than Losurdo as a year has passed and I know the English version.
Learning that Marx, Lenin, etc knew multiple languages inspired me in the first place. The way they engaged with original primary sources and synced in with international workers’ movements… 🤯 I need that for myself now.
Ooh, that does look good… sci-fi… anti-fascism. It’s on the list! In fact, I might have to get this in a translation that I can read now. I’m not sure if I can wait years to learn German.
You can try first with Steppenwolf also from Hesse. somewhat easier to read. It’s from 1927 and because of this no copyright and you can download it for free.
I mean, it would be fun going to France, shouting at the French in French about stolen Benin bronzes, and working on getting them repatriated (albeit to Nigeria, where the Oba is, rather than to modern-day Benin; although I’m unsure about the exact historical borders).
based as hell, I have Lés Mis, The Social Contract, Nausea by Sartre, and The Flowers of Evil all in their original French. Granted, that’s because I was trying to learn French in college…
It’s a good way to motivate oneself.
I bought a copy of Das Kapital in German a couple of weeks ago. Second hand. It was too cheap to pass up. (Equivalent of $3.)
I don’t speak or read German.
But I’ve set myself the challenge now! Might take me a few years to get there.
This tactic worked for Spanish. I got Losurdo’s book on Stalin in Spanish because there was no English translation at the time. I tried reading it about a year ago and didn’t quite get enough out of it, so I’ll pick it up again later. I’m about to open El Estado y la Revolución. Another cheap used copy I couldn’t miss. Should be easier than Losurdo as a year has passed and I know the English version.
Learning that Marx, Lenin, etc knew multiple languages inspired me in the first place. The way they engaged with original primary sources and synced in with international workers’ movements… 🤯 I need that for myself now.
How far did you get with Rousseau and friends?
Try with Herman Hesse Das Glasperlenspiel
Ooh, that does look good… sci-fi… anti-fascism. It’s on the list! In fact, I might have to get this in a translation that I can read now. I’m not sure if I can wait years to learn German.
You can try first with Steppenwolf also from Hesse. somewhat easier to read. It’s from 1927 and because of this no copyright and you can download it for free.
In German
http://www.omyjedu.com/attached/file/20170811/20170811104146_2291.pdf
English version
https://booksvooks.com/steppenwolf-pdf-hermann-hesse.html
Thanks for the suggestion and the links. I shall take a good look. Might even read this over Christmas.
Honestly, when I was in College I was learning French to join the Peace Corps 🤢
I planned to go to Benin. Where I’m at politically now, kinda killed my desire to learn French. Though I am learning Korean.
I mean, it would be fun going to France, shouting at the French in French about stolen Benin bronzes, and working on getting them repatriated (albeit to Nigeria, where the Oba is, rather than to modern-day Benin; although I’m unsure about the exact historical borders).