/lit/ - Literature

Is the Constance Garnett translation (on Project Gutenberg) considered good? I'm having a really hard time following it, especially the dialogue.

"Great literature effectively sheds new light on unfashionable topics."
To what extent do you agree with this view.

I have to choose a text to answer this essay question. I figure something like Lolita or In Cold Blood would be tailor made for this question, but having read neither of them I've chosen Crime and Punishment.

The unfashionable topic in this case is I guess murder, and the new light is being able to see inside a murderers head/rationale.

For the three literary techniques I've chosen to go with the characterisation of Raskolnikov, the omnipresent narrator (thus giving us Raskol's thoughts) and I need one more. Perhaps the 'idea of the ordinary/extraordinary?

Thoughts?

And suddenly my passion for reading has returned. Thanks, Fyodor.

I watch a lot of murder mysteries and TV shows (Sherlock with Cumberbatch), and having just finished the chapter where Raskolnikov does THAT and returns home, a detail suddenly popped into my head.

>the floor was freshly painted

Without spoiling it, am I right to pick up on this? Shoe marks on the floor, if the shoe fits, etc.

What's the best translation of Crime and Punishment? I just found an old copy (Signet Classic) translated by Sidney Monas.

Is this good, or should I buy a diff one on amazon?

>inb4 Y U NO READ IN RUSSIAN

Hey lit, I've decided to be less of a lazy fuck and read some goddamn Dostoyevsky.

I think i'll start with Crime and Punishment translated, any recommendations for the particular translation?