Adolf Hitler's book, Mein Kampf, has been controversial for many reasons but one of the greatest controversies has been over the English translations. We have discovered that these older versions contain mistranslations, inaccurate translations, and outright embellishment. Mein Kampf: A Translation Controversy takes a look at Mein Kampf like no one has before and explains many elements that have confused readers. We also reveal many passages that were quietly omitted from past English translations. I reviewed and checked every line and for the first time, Mein Kampf is available in an easy to understand version. This long road of research and sweat from the development of a new translation has revealed over 1000 errors in past English translations. Now you can discover previously unknown aspects to Mein Kampf and understand it as no one has before.
There are many secrets in the pages of Mein Kampf. They have remained hidden by poor and inaccurate translations. In this critical analysis of the existing English translations, we will reveal countless errors that have distorted the meaning of the work. We will also explain some important points about Mein Kampf that have confused readers in the past and give you some background information that will enhance the political and historical meaning of this hotly debated work.
Don't miss your chance to learn what few people know. Read Mein Kampf: A Translation Controversy now.
This book is written by Michael Ford to promote his dubious translation of "Mein Kampf." His previous books include how to avoid being scammed on eBay and how to find a job if you are a felon, worthy topics, but not ones that inspire confidence in his ability to translate "Mein Kampf."
This book tries to show that his translation is better than others, including that by award-winning translator Ralph Manheim. I have gone though Ford's translation in some detail, and urge you to go with Ralph Manheim's instead.
Just for example, in the very first line of his translation, he has "Braunau Am Inn" as Hitler's birthplace. If you know German, you will instantly know that it should be "Braunau am Inn." That is the kind of error a first-year student of German might make. In another place, he insists that "Vereinsabende" should be translated as "night clubs." Try that on a friend who knows German and watch them smile. His translation is filled with such errors.
No scholar, nor anyone with expertise on Hitler or the Third Reich, is likely to recommend this promotional book, nor Ford's translation.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Mein Kampf A Translation Controversy documents errors in past translations of Mein Kampf plus it explains some history about the book and Hitler's style. Don't think it is a boring and dry analysis. It is very interesting for any student of Hitler or just of literature in general. It shows how past translations differ and it gives a new perspective on Mein Kampf.
It starts with a section called Understanding Hitler which explains the circumstances surrounding the writing of Mein Kampf, where Hitler was in terms of his weakening power and how he was facing the possible loss of control over the party.
It then covers the known translations and explains a bit about each.
It also covers Hitlerisms which are the odd writing or speaking styles Hitler used to make his points. It then explains German racial references which are often misunderstood or mistranslated in older versions.
The real meat of the book is actually the appendix. It documents older translations and the errors they contained. The appendix is about 2/3 of the total book.
There are over one hundred examples. I will give examples here. In the first quote from the book, a sentence from Manheim's translation, is compared to the Ford translation which shows how Manheim mistranslated the original German.
----------------------Quote-------------------------------------------
"Original German: Damit ziehen wir Nationalsozialisten bewußt einen Strich unter die
außenpoli-tische Richtung unserer Vorkriegszeit.
Manheim translation: And so we National Socialists consciously
draw a line beneath the foreign-policy tendency of our pre-War period.
Ford translation: So, we National-Socialists must scratch out the
foreign policy practices of the pre-war period.
The Manheim translation incorrectly says that the party is to draw a line UNDER, or underline the pre-War policy, thereby highlighting it but this is not what Hitler said at all. He was not highlighting the policy and was not signifying its importance,
he was slamming previous policy and saying it was to be crossed out, scratched out, a line drawn THROUGH it, not under it..."(Abbreviated for this posting)
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Here is another shortened example which shows how mistranslations were made which affected the meaning of Hitler's words. I had to shorten the sentences some because it was a bit long.
-------------------------Quote----------------------------------------
Reynal-Hitchcock translation: For the voluntary war hero, of course, no Articles of War were necessary, but ...
Murphy translation: For the voluntary war hero it is, of course, not necessary to have the death penalty in the military code, but it is necessary for ...
Stackpole translation: Of course, no Articles of War were necessary for the heroes who volunteered; they were needed for the cowardly...
Ford translation: The hero who volunteered needed no threats of the death penalty....
Stackpole and Reynal mistranslated this section. They confused the reference. It was to the death penalty, not The Articles Of War. The Articles of war did NOT call for a death penalty and that was Hitler's complaint.
Many similar examples are explained in detail and many have the original German language text for comparison so the reader can do their own translation tests and verify the accuracy.
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Overview
Adolf Hitler's book, Mein Kampf, has been controversial for many reasons but one of the greatest controversies has been over the English translations. We have discovered that these older versions contain mistranslations, inaccurate translations, and outright embellishment. Mein Kampf: A Translation Controversy takes a look at Mein Kampf like no one has before and explains many elements that have confused readers. We also reveal many passages that were ...