Russian to English
Translate a Russian book into English, and keep the Russian
Read Tolstoy, Chekhov or a contemporary Russian novel with English beside every paragraph: the original author's words on one side, a translation to lean on on the other.
Все счастливые семьи похожи друг на друга, каждая несчастливая семья несчастлива по-своему.
All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
Всё смешалось в доме Облонских.
Everything was in confusion in the Oblonskys' house.
How it works
Upload the book, choose English, and look at the free preview of the opening pages, side by side. If it reads well, translate the whole book and read it in the browser, or download it as a PDF, an EPUB, or a Kindle file. More about translating a book.
Where to find Russian books
The great Russian classics are in the public domain and easy to find as free EPUBs. Contemporary books need a DRM-free file; a text-based PDF works too.
Reading Russian with English beside it
One person, five names
Alexei Alexandrovich, Alyosha, Lyosha: Russian novels call the same person by full name, patronymic and pet names, and translations often flatten them. With the original beside you, you can follow who is being called what, and how warmly.
Classics you already know
Reading a book you have read in English, now with the Russian beside it, is one of the easiest ways into Russian literature: you know the story, so the language gets your attention.
Questions
Can I read a Russian classic in Russian and English side by side?
Yes. Download a free EPUB of the classic, upload it, choose English, and read it with each paragraph next to its translation, in the browser or on an e-reader.
Does it work with old scanned books?
A file with selectable text works best. Scans are read with text recognition, which depends on the scan; the free preview shows the result before you spend anything.
Is it a literary translation?
No, it is a machine translation meant to be read beside the original, which stays on the page for exactly that reason.