What is your favorite book not originally written in English?

Question

What is your favorite book not originally written in English?
I primarily teach th century narrative fiction and film to many college students in the US for whom this may be their only exposure to socalled quotWorld Literature.quot What have been some of your enjoyable reading experiences that are not originally written in English?

Answer

I think that the French have won my heart in regards to writers who have been translated into English. I have read works by Jean Genet and Honore De Balzac, and also Dumas Camille. I wish I knew French so that I might read their words as intended, however the beauty of their language has translated well amp I find myself thinking that it is as if they were written in English and I am not at a loss in any way. I owe a lot of gratitude to those people who spend their time in translating these works... brbrI liked answering this question very much amp I happen to be in the middle of reading Balzacs Lost Illusions. How that man can write!