Introduction - A Need for A Better Translation of C. G. Jung's Red Book

In 1913 C.G. Jung started work on what would become his "Red Book." It was never published during his lifetime. A facsimile edition with and English translation, edited by Sonu Shamdasani was published by W.W. Norton & Company in 2004. It was translated by Mark Kyburz, John Peck adn Sonu Shamdasani.

C. G. Jung wrote and illustrated the Red Book like a medieval illuminated manuscript, to express a series of visions and dreams he had, starting in 1913. The content of these visions may be considered strange or bizarre, but they were a pivotal experience for C. G. Jung and laid the foundation for much of his subsequent work on understanding the human psyche.

Because the book is so voluminous and the content so seemingly bizarre, no one has questioned how accurate the translation is. 

I have closely read the facsimile of the Red Book and the translation and have found numerous translation errors, inconsistencies and editorial errors. These errors often make the text more confusing and obscure or misrepresent many crucial passages. In this blog, I hope to share some of my re-translations so the true beauty of the Red Book can be better understood by those willing to take the time.

Florian Birkmayer MD
http://thebirkmayerinstitute.com/