Gunter grass The tin drum. The new translation by Breon Mitchell

The new English translation of The Tin Drum by Breon Mitchell (2009) is considered special for a few reasons, especially if you compare it to the original 1961 Ralph Manheim translation.

Heres what makes it stand out:

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1. Closer to Grasss Original Voice

Breon Mitchell worked directly from the original German and tried to preserve the tone, rhythm, and wordplay that were muted or altered in the older translation.

Grasss style is rich in irony, abrupt shifts, and dark humorMitchells version captures that more faithfully.

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2. Restored and Uncensored Passages

The Manheim translation left out or softened certain sexual, political, and grotesque elements (some due to publishing sensibilities in the early 60s).

Mitchell restored those missing or altered sections, so English readers get the full novel as Grass wrote it.

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3. Nuanced Handling of Dialects and Wordplay

Grasss German mixes slang, dialects, and poetic flourishes; Mitchell uses inventive English to match the shifts in register without losing meaning.

This gives the characters more vivid and authentic voices.

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4. Approved by Grass Himself

Günter Grass read parts of Mitchells translation during the process, offering guidance and approvalso this version is closer to the authors own intentions.

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5. Modern Readability

The language feels fresher and less dated than the 1961 version, while still retaining the postwar settings authenticity.

If youve only read the old translation, Mitchells can feel like discovering The Tin Drum anewsharper, stranger, and more alive.

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If you want the complete, uncensored, and most faithful English version of Grasss masterpiece, the Breon Mitchell translation is the one to read.

If youd like, I can show you a side-by-side example of a passage so you can see how different they feel.