Tolkien Collector's Guide
Sign In
Tolkien Collector's Guide
Important links:

Guide to Tolkien's Letters
-
Winner of the 2019 Tolkien Society award for Best Website

Ukrainian Sir Gawain and the Green Knight book edition (2021)

10 Nov, 2021
2021-11-10 10:12:35 PM UTC

I live in Ukraine and here we have a great publisher "Astrolabe Publishing" (it has ENG version of their site as well https://astrolabium.com.ua/en/) that officially translates and issues Tolkien books.

This week they issued the translation of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, includes Pearl and Sir Orfeo". https://astrolabium.com.ua/en/ser_gave ... in_dzhon_ronald_ruel.html

Why I decided to post about it. looking at my copy of this book an idea crossed my mind: fact that each their book (Tolkien ones including) is of the highest print quality: well-designed book covers, white thick paper, nice illustrations, coloured ribbon. I own each their Tolkien book and I've never seen a single printing issue that concerns the quality of physical book. The price of each hardback book barely reaches 10 USD, pre-orders may reduce the price to 7-8 USD which is quite cheap even for Ukraine.

So why HarperCollins fells ok producing overpriced Trade and DeLuxes with uncountable amount of issues in their copies, I really cannot understand. But anyways, I just wanted to show how good can be a book even if it costs 10 USD, if reputation matters for publisher.

Let me know if you would like to see more of photos of Ukrainian Tolkien book editions. I'll be happy to share it with you.

5066_618c4236ae26f.jpeg 3024X4032 px

5066_618c4236b2e94.jpeg 3024X4032 px

5066_618c4236b3ffd.jpeg 3024X4032 px

5066_618c4236b78f2.jpeg 4032X3024 px

5066_618c4236b892b.jpeg 4032X3024 px

5066_618c4236b9650.jpeg 4032X3024 px

5066_618c4236ba648.jpeg 3024X4032 px

5066_618c4236bb7fc.jpeg 3024X4032 px

5066_618c4236bca90.jpeg 4032X3024 px

5066_618c4236bdb9a.jpeg 4032X3024 px
10 Nov, 2021
2021-11-10 10:20:16 PM UTC
This looks like a nice edition, thanks for posting. Does it have any of Tolkien's manuscript pages included?
10 Nov, 2021
2021-11-10 10:28:32 PM UTC
Thanks for posting this. Beautiful book.
10 Nov, 2021
2021-11-10 10:43:11 PM UTC

onthetrail wrote:

This looks like a nice edition, thanks for posting. Does it have any of Tolkien's manuscript pages included?
No, it has 7 illustrations from XIV century manuscript "Cotton Nero A.x." and 4 others, but none of them are Tolkien works.
10 Nov, 2021
2021-11-10 10:52:59 PM UTC
It seems nice indeed, thanks for sharing. Is this the only bilingual edition they're publishing?
10 Nov, 2021
2021-11-10 11:12:38 PM UTC

Amedautrui wrote:

onthetrail wrote:

This looks like a nice edition, thanks for posting. Does it have any of Tolkien's manuscript pages included?
No, it has 7 illustrations from XIV century manuscript "Cotton Nero A.x." and 4 others, but none of them are Tolkien works.

Thanks for the info. From the image you posted it looks like a rather nice colour reproductions for "Cotton Nero A.x.". My poor bookshelf
11 Nov, 2021
2021-11-11 8:03:32 AM UTC
I wouldn’t call it 100% bilingual as it is only the part in verses that is presented English/Ukraine side-by-side. The rest of the book (commentary and everything that is not in verses) is in Ukrainian only. But they always present this way the verses:
1) “The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún” is presented in the same bilingual way. Here it is: https://astrolabium.com.ua/en/legenda_ ... in_dzhon_ronald_ruel.html

2) and “The Fall of Arthur” is also bilingual: https://astrolabium.com.ua/en/padinnja ... in_dzhon_ronald_ruel.html

You can see all the translated works from this publisher here by author search: https://astrolabium.com.ua/en/?search=Tolkien

We should soon see the translation of “Beowulf”. They are also in process of translating the History of Middle-Earth. But that work will take at least 10 years, I think.
11 Nov, 2021
2021-11-11 9:10:37 AM UTC
Thanks for the clarification. It would be also interesting to understand if any of these books have illustrations or other special features...
11 Nov, 2021
2021-11-11 9:10:09 PM UTC

Ecthelion wrote:

Thanks for the clarification. It would be also interesting to understand if any of these books have illustrations or other special features...

To answer your question I have taken photos of all my Tolkien books in Ukrainian and added some notes to them.

All Ukrainian books were issued as hardbacks.
All books except LOTR and The Fall of Arthur have ribbons (bookmarks).
We have not yet seen an illustrated LOTR or Silmarillion edition.

One of the first Ukrainian LOTR translations was issued as a non-illustrated omnibus edition similar to the Silmarillion that I show in my collection. It is no more available to purchase (my Silmarillion and omnibus LOTR). New Silmarillion is non-illustrated and similar to 3-volume LOTR design.

I expect to see the 3-volume illustrated: LOTR, Silmarillion, Unfinished tales in the design and size of Gurin/Luthien/Gondolin/Hobbit books.

Most probably History of Middle-Earth will be issues in that size as well.

If any of you have interest in some more details specific to one of the book, just let me know) I'll be happy to share with you.

5066_618d848b8ec54.jpg 4032X3024 px

5066_618d848b9303b.jpg 3866X2310 px

5066_618d848b95d43.jpeg 3426X2083 px
11 Nov, 2021
2021-11-11 9:19:22 PM UTC
Thank you, that is really interesting
Jump to Last
All original content ©2024 by the submitting authors. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Contact Us