I´ve also followed the discussion and I´m also a Swede who read LOTR i swedish the first time, but I have to say I disagree with you, Dai. I think it´s a HUGE difference between the swedish traslation and the original text in English. In later years my disliking of the translator Åke Ohlmarks have diminished a bit, but I can´t forget he translated the battle of Pelennor in such a way that in the end it was Merry who slew the Witch-king and not Eowyn... That's bad! OK, Merry distracted the Witch-king by stabbing him in the knee, but he did not kill him. That's just one of numerous errors made by Mr Ohlmarks.

But, the translating errors aside, it's IMHO a completely different experience to read LOTHR in English. In English (I hear the English accent in my head when i read LOTR and not American or some other different language, Swedish included) it's very beautiful and have SOMETHING I can't pinpoint that disappears in the translation. Even if I can't express myself especially eloquent in English, spoken or written, I can appreciate the atmosphere(?) the English (Tolkienish?) language, and accent, gives LOTR. But that's just my opinion and I think it's because everybody interprets LOTR different which makes it so difficult for PJ to please everyone. He himself has said the films are going to be HIS interpretation of JRRT's fantastic tale. His humble approach speaks in favour of "The Lord of The Rings" beeing a cinematic succes of epic proportions.I think RSS and Mr Martinez have to agree they disagree, because they "hear" different things in their heads when they read LOTR as I and Dai do.

Regards

Mjolnir