A word by any other word...

How close can a translation really hew to the original story? I suppose plot is fairly easy, but beyond that I can't see how it can be a full experience. The nuance of words seems likely to be lost, taking with it all but the most obvious aspects of character and theme. Those who employ subtle word play are most likely ill-served. Even the most skilled translators, those who are writers themselves, couldn't possibly capture everything.

Is "almost as good" good enough? If we can't read the original language, is having a pale copy the next best thing? If you could only view the work of Matisse without seeing the colour red, would it be worth viewing at all?

These are things I wonder as I dip into the latest volume from Ex Occidente; "The Horrifying Presence and Other Tales" by Jean Ray (translated into English by António Monteiro).