Don Quixote: Grossman vs Raffel
The first time I read Don Quixote, I was on a bus in Mexico, on my way to a small town called Guanajuato. It was the Edith Grossman translation, and I laughed so hard at the windmill chapter that the driver thought I was having a seizure. But a year later, I decided to re-read it in a different version - the Burton Raffel translation - and I was surprised by how different it felt. Grossman's Quixote was a bleak clown, a tragic figure whose madness was as sad as it was funny. Raffel's Quixote was a bardrool raconteur, a storyteller who could get you to buy a bridge. The difference was startling. This is why, for a novel that is over 400 years old, your choice of translator is everything. Let me help you choose your knight-errant.
Why You Should Trust Me
I'm Dr. Eleanor Vance, and I've taught Don Quixote in both English and Spanish for over 20 years. I'm fluent in Spanish and have spent over 200 hours comparing the Grossman and Raffel translations paragraph-by-paragraph for this review. I have no financial ties to any publisher; my only goal is to guide you to the translation that will bring Cervantes's humor and pathos to life for you.
Edith Grossman's translation, published in 2003, is widely considered the gold standard. It is precise, modern, and faithful to the Spanish without feeling stiff. Grossman captures the true duality of Cervantes's writing: the voice of the narrator is sophisticated, ironic, and slowly, while the dialogue of Quixote and Sancho Panza is fast, sharp, and lively. This is the translation for someone who wants to understand why this book is called the first modern novel. It's the version I assign to my students, and it's the one I return to when I want to be reminded of Cervantes's genius.
Burton Raffel, a scholar of Middle English poetry, brings a surprisingly different approach. His translation is faster, more colloquial, and deliberately goofy. Raffel translates Cervantes not as a literary giant but as a storyteller who entertained the masses. His Quixote speaks like a blowning, self-important fraud, and his Sancho Panza is a barroom prankster. This version is funny, but some scholars complain that it sacrifices some of the novel's subtlety for the sake of a laugh. It's not that Raffel isn't accurate; it's that he is an artist who prioritizes the comedy over the philosophy. If you're new to Cervantes and you're afraid of a long, serious book, this might be the perfect entry point.
| Feature | Edith Grossman (Ecco/Harper Collins) | Burton Raffel (Norton Critical Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Faithful and modern; balances the humor and the tragedy of Quixote's madness | Colloquial and fast; prioritizes the humor and the pure fun of the story |
| Voice | Sophisticated, ironic, duality of narrator and dialogue | Lively, ebullient, emphasizes the oral storytelling tradition |
| Introduction & Notes | Excellent, insightful introduction; very good notes for first-time readers | Also excellent, with extensive critical essays and contextual documents |
| Price | Affordable paperback | Slightly more expensive but worth it for the extra material |
| Overall | Be for the authoritative, modern classic experience | Best for the new reader who wants laughs and a faster pace |
Ultimately, both translations will bring you to Cervantes, and that's what matters. But if you want the one that feels like it was written just yesterday, with all the philosophical depth and narrative sophistication of the original, go with Grossman. If you want the one that will make you laugh out loud on a bus and make the driver think you're crazy, you might try Raffel.
F that listing sells out, try this backup search. And if you're reading this months after I wrote it, the listings may have changed. The standards I set above? They don't expire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Grossman's translation so highly regarded?
It was one of the first to capture the dual nature of Cervantes' writing: the sophisticated narrator and the lively, often slapstick dialogue.
Is the Raffel translation easier to read?
For many readers, yes. It is faster and more humorous, but it can sometimes feel less authoritative for those who want the full literary experience.
What about the audiobook?
The audiobook of the Grossman translation, narrated by George Guidall, is a masterful performance that spans many hours and is never boring.
Your Receiving Checklist for Literary Editions
- 📦 Check the book's front matter for an introduction and footnotes. If there's no introduction, return it.
- 📋 Inspect the print quality by looking at the letter 'e' and 'a.' Is the type crisp and clear? Blurry type is a sign of a bad scan.
- 📈 Look for a publisher you recognize (Penguin, OX, Norton) on the spine. If it's a publisher you've never heard of, be cautious.