Fwd: Inadequate bibliographic records for translations, and thoughts on The Count of Monte Cristo

Hi all. I think translations should have more bibliographic information.
For example, consider the record for the Count of Monte Cristo
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1184#bibrec . The following vital
information is missing:

* That the author Alexandre Dumas wrote the book in French, and that this
is a translation
* Who did the translation, and when it was first published

Information about the translation is important because translations can be
copyright while the original work is public domain.

* * *

Also, this particular translation is questionable. For example, in the
story, Captain Edmond Dantes is accused of aiding the exiled Napolean, by
an anonymous letter to the king's attorney. The letter is read and re-read
several times during the adventure. The wording varies each time! (I assume
Dumas was not so sloppy in the original)

> "The honorable, the king's attorney, is informed by a friend of the
throne and religion, that one Edmond Dantes, mate of the ship Pharaon,
arrived this morning from Smyrna, after having touched at Naples and
Porto-Ferrajo, has been intrusted by Murat with a letter for the usurper,
and by the usurper with a letter for the Bonapartist committee in Paris.
Proof of this crime will be found on arresting him, for the letter will be
found upon him, or at his father's, or in his cabin on board the Pharaon."
>
> "'The king's attorney is informed by a friend to the throne and the
religions institutions of his country, that one named Edmond Dantes, mate
of the ship Pharaon, this day arrived from Smyrna, after having touched at
Naples and Porto-Ferrajo, has been the bearer of a letter from Murat to the
usurper, and again taken charge of another letter from the usurper to the
Bonapartist club in Paris. Ample corroboration of this statement may be
obtained by arresting the above-mentioned Edmond Dantes, who either carries
the letter for Paris about with him, or has it at his father's abode.
Should it not be found in the possession of father or son, then it will
assuredly be discovered in the cabin belonging to the said Dantes on board
the Pharaon.'"
>
> Dantes paused a moment, then said, "This is it, word for word: 'The
king's attorney is informed by a friend to the throne and religion, that
one Edmond Dantes, mate on board the Pharaon, this day arrived from Smyrna,
after having touched at Naples and Porto-Ferrajo, has been intrusted by
Murat with a packet for the usurper; again, by the usurper, with a letter
for the Bonapartist Club in Paris. This proof of his guilt may be procured
by his immediate arrest, as the letter will be found either about his
person, at his father's residence, or in his cabin on board the Pharaon.'"
>
> "The king's attorney is informed by a friend to the throne and religion
that one Edmond Dantes, second in command on board the Pharaon, this day
arrived from Smyrna, after having touched at Naples and Porto-Ferrajo, is
the bearer of a letter from Murat to the usurper, and of another letter
from the usurper to the Bonapartist club in Paris. Ample corroboration of
this statement may be obtained by arresting the above-mentioned Edmond
Dantes, who either carries the letter for Paris about with him, or has it
at his father's abode. Should it not be found in possession of either
father or son, then it will assuredly be discovered in the cabin belonging
to the said Dantes on board the Pharaon."

* * *

What do you think?
-Matt

ps. I think Project Gutenberg ought to have public comment pages that
everyone can use. A private mailing list, that requires you sign up—and
wait a day for your account to activate—before you can even read it, is
prohibitive for many potential contributors.
 pps. Fourth time lucky.

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