FAQ: Best version of “Einzige” in English


1946-Today, Apio Ludd, Book, James J. Martin, Max Stirner, Steven T. Byington / Thursday, September 9th, 2021

Someone asked:

hello! I heard about max stirner and (want to know) best version of that work.  I see it is out of stock and was just curious if there was any plans for another run? thank you for taking the time out of your day to read this!

We responded:

The “best version” depends on a few things. Some people don’t like the Byington translation first issued under the title The Ego and His Own. I’ve seen some people say some pretty ill-informed things about it, but Byington’s work was more than competent and I don’t think anyone reading it would be led astray. That being said, Wolfi Landstreicher’s more recent translation, under the more literal title The Unique and Its Property, is excellent. He does make some distinctions that Byington didn’t.
If you were just wanting an English version to understand, I think either translation will serve you well.
If you are looking for an annotated edition, then the Cambridge edition of the Byington translation is, without question, the most scholarly.
If you are looking for a well produced, inexpensive edition, Verso Books nicely retypset and redesigned the Libertarian Book Club edition that was based on Byington and edited by James J. Martin. It is around $14: https://amzn.to/3AbCDJX
If Wolfi’s work is what you want, the in-print edition is available from Little Black Cart: https://littleblackcart.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=672 . The LBC edition is based on the out-of-print Underworld Amusements first edition. They redesigned it, added an index but deleted a footnote (for reasons unknown to me).
It is difficult to recommend any of the other in-print editions published in the last few years. There is a ton of garbage flooding the online market. They’re mostly ugly and ineptly put together.

 

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