P2P 6 Larsen to Swenson 1935

P2P 6 Larsen to Swenson 1935

THE AMERICAN-SCANDINAVIAN FOUNDATION 116 EAST SIXTY-FOURTH STREET NEW YORK


Cable Address “Scanfoun new york”

September 26th, 1935

Dear Professor Swenson:

I am very much pleased indeed that your translation of "Smuler” is nearing completion. I am, however, a little distressed that you have reworded your translation, because 1 liked it so well in the form you had first given it. Of course, I am no philosopher, but I have worked with translations for a charter of a century and I think it is always legitimate to make such slight changes as the new medium requires, provided the meaning of the original is kept. It seemed to me that you had been singularly happy in doing this. In many passages, ail you had done was to break the long sentences, and that I do hope you will continue to do. I am afraid that Kierkegaard1s interminable sentences and endless paragraphs will frighten any reader.

With regard to the title, we all think ’’Philosophical Fragments" is very good, and I at least should regret it if you substituted any of the other words you suggest. "Fragments” seems to be by far the most dignified word.

Sincerely yours,
[illegible]
Literary Secretary

Professor David F. Swenson,
University of Minnesota,
Minneapolis, Minn.