The Little Prince - Woods vs Howard translations?

[boatbaby]

I read The Little Prince in French when I was younger. It is such a fantastic story and I want to get it for my son who is venturing into chapter books.

My head is spinning reading the reviews of the original translation by Katherine Woods vs the newer translation by Richard Howard.

I have read that Woods was wooden and stiff, then also that she is true to the original author and has a classic cadence that makes the story what it is.
I have read that Howard "cleaned" up her version and made it more fun and easier to read. Also read that he dumbed it down and missed the point.

Now I don't know which to buy... :

Any thoughts?

[journeymom]

Well, I think 'wooden but true to the original author' trumps 'easier to read but misses the point'.

But maybe you could read the Richard Howard version and see if you agree with the critique!

I'm assuming I read the Katherine Woods translation. I haven't read this new translation. How does Richard Howard miss the point?

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Edited to say, I read some of the reviews on amazon.com. Sounds to me you should steer well clear of the Howard version. It doesn't convey the meaning any better than the Woods translation, if anything, it's worse. And his translation sounds clunky, not poetic and lovely like the original.