{"id":1818,"date":"2014-02-24T07:37:26","date_gmt":"2014-02-24T12:37:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/language-news\/?p=1818"},"modified":"2020-10-02T13:28:34","modified_gmt":"2020-10-02T17:28:34","slug":"8-of-the-most-translated-stories-in-the-world-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/language-news\/2014\/02\/24\/8-of-the-most-translated-stories-in-the-world-2\/","title":{"rendered":"8 of the Most Translated Stories in the World"},"content":{"rendered":"

Looking for a good read in your target language? Chances are one of these stories will be available, considering they are among the most translated stories in the world. Here are my top 8 picks for foreign language reading materials, from children\u2019s books to comics to full-length classics.<\/p>\n

1. Harry Potter Series<\/b><\/p>\n

This seven-part book series follows the wizarding adventures of the world-famous Harry Potter and his best friends Ron and Hermione as they attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This beloved series has sold several hundred million copies, making author J.K. Rowling the only billionaire author in the world. The overarching theme of the struggle against evil can be explored by children (and adults!) of 67 different language backgrounds.<\/p>\n

\u201cDifferences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.\u201d \u2013 The wise and wonderful Albus Dumbledore<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cDeath’s got an Invisibility Cloak?” Harry interrupted again.<\/i>
\n“So he can sneak up on people,” said Ron. “Sometimes he gets bored of running at them, flapping his arms and shrieking…\u201d\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

2. Alice\u2019s Adventures in Wonderland<\/b><\/p>\n

Commonly shortened to Alice in Wonderland, this Lewis Carroll masterpiece follows Alice on her trip down a rabbit hole and into an anthropomorphic wonderland where playing croquet with a flamingo is one of the most normal occurrences. Follow Alice down the rabbit hole in 97 different languages.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I don\u2019t want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked.<\/i>
\n“Oh, you can\u2019t help that,” said the Cat: “we\u2019re all mad here. I\u2019m mad. You\u2019re mad.”
\n“How do you know I\u2019m mad?” said Alice.
\n“You must be,” said the Cat, or you wouldn\u2019t have come here.\u201d\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

3. <\/b>The Little Prince<\/b><\/p>\n

This beloved children\u2019s tale is really a must-read for all ages. The narrator, a pilot whose plane crashes in the Sahara desert, meets a young prince who has fallen to Earth from an asteroid. While the pilot tries to fix his plane, the little prince tells his compelling life story, which is rich with lessons on life, love, and friendship. Readers around the world can (and should!) share in the absurdity of adult life, as this masterpiece by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupery is now translated into more than 180 languages, as well as Braille.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.\u201d\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/i>I have lived a great deal among grown-ups. I have seen them intimately, close at hand. And that hasn\u2019t much improved my opinion of them.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

4.\u00a0<\/b>Pippi Longstocking<\/b><\/p>\n

This flame-haired nine-year-old is the star of a series of children\u2019s books by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. What\u2019s not to like about a quirky young girl with superhuman strength who is constantly accompanied by a monkey and a pony? That could explain why children can enjoy Pippi\u2019s adventures in 64 languages. Though, they may know her by one of her many other names, such as: Fifi Brindacier (French), L\u00edna Langsokku (Hungarian), \u9577\u9774\u4e0b\u306e\u30d4\u30c3\u30d4 (Japanese), Pippi L\u00e5ngstrump (Swedish), or \u03a0\u03af\u03c0\u03b7 \u03a6\u03b1\u03ba\u03b9\u03b4\u03bf\u03bc\u03cd\u03c4\u03b7 (Greek).<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Nightshirts aren’t dangerous,” Pippi assured her. “They don’t bite anybody except in self defense.\u201d\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/i>5. The Alchemist<\/b><\/p>\n

Originally written in Portuguese by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist now discusses the meaning of life (heavy, I know) in 67 languages. Written over a span of only two weeks, the international best-seller follows a young shepherd\u2019s journey to Egypt, following a series of recurring dreams about discovering treasure there.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.\u201d\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy do we have to listen to our hearts?” the boy asked.<\/i>
\n“Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you will find your treasure.\u201d\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/i>6.\u00a0<\/b>The Adventures of Tintin<\/b><\/p>\n

Georges Remi, or should I say Herg\u00e9, introduced readers to fictional Belgian reporter Tintin in a series of comic albums in the 20th<\/sup> century. The perfect mix of mystery and comedy made it one of the most popular comics of the time, and it recently was made into a big-time motion picture. But we all know the book (or in this case the comic) is better than the movie, so readers can now follow Tintin and his faithful pooch Snowy as they heroically save the day in 96 different languages.<\/p>\n

<\/i>7.\u00a0<\/b>Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea<\/b><\/p>\n

The U.S. government sends an expedition to track down a giant sea monster in this science fiction classic by French author Jules Verne. Narrated by Professor Pierre Aronnax, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea has been translated into 174 languages, captivating hoards of fans around the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith its untold depths, couldn’t the sea keep alive such huge specimens of life from another age, this sea that never changes while the land masses undergo almost continuous alteration? Couldn’t the heart of the ocean hide the last\u2013remaining varieties of these titanic species, for whom years are centuries and centuries millennia?\u201d\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/i>8.\u00a0<\/b>The Adventures of Pinocchio<\/b><\/p>\n

Who hasn\u2019t heard of Pinocchio, the wooden puppet whose nose grows every time he tells a lie? The mischievous marionette, carved by carpenter Gepetto, just wants to be a real boy! He\u2019s also a really big deal\u2014brought to us by Italian author Carlo Collodi, the story of Pinocchio is now available in 260 languages.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are the gold pieces now?’ the Fairy asked.\u00a0<\/i>
\n‘I lost them,’ answered Pinocchio, but he told a lie, for he had them in his pocket.
\nAs he spoke, his nose, long though it was, became at least two inches longer.\u201d\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Which of these have you read, and in what language(s)? What other works am I missing that you would you recommend?<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Looking for a good read in your target language? Chances are one of these stories will be available, considering they are among the most translated stories in the world. Here are my top 8 picks for foreign language reading materials, from children\u2019s books to comics to full-length classics. 1. Harry Potter Series This seven-part book…<\/p>\n

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