Faithful vs free translation

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Meredith: You have something to read on the flight?

Harold: Do you think I could finish Tale of of Genji in 15 hours?

Meredith: Whose?

Harold: Seidensticker’s.

Meredith: You’ll go to sleep. It’s good, it’s faithful, he leaves nothing out. But…

Harold: But?

Meredith: If you took Waley’s translation you might go quicker.  He played fast and rather loose, cut a lot… I have a copy...

Harold: You mean it’s an adaptation. Maybe that’s what I need on a flight.

Meredith: But there's also this one.  Royall Tyler's version is sort of midway between faithful and free. lot… Take it if you want…

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