A competent translation/a pitiful bungle: \textit{The foundations of geometry} (Q6169275)

\textit{Grundlagen der Geometrie} is David Hilbert's monumental work, published in 1899 [JFM 30.0424.01], in which he introduced the axiomatic method in geometry and so founded a new direction in mathematical research. It is reviewed and translated in numerous languages, and the translations are also reviewed. The reviews of its first English translation \textit{The foundations of geometry} in 1902 [JFM 33.0082.10] by the American mathematician E. J. Townsend (1866--1955) are the subject of the present article. The quality of the translation was evaluated unevenly by American mathematicians in their reviews. In O. Veblen's opinion the translation was `very competent and useful piece of work'. Hilbert's student E. R. Hedrick complimented the translation, but complained that it did not follow Hilbert's celebrated work in italicized words and so `a great deal was lost'. The author discusses also G. B. Halsted's negative review who wrote about the translation as of `pitiful bungle'. Given that Townsend's translation of Hilbert's \textit{Grundlagen der Geometrie} continues to be the standard English translation, Halsted's review is unfounded harsh criticism. This is an interesting article based on correspondence on the subject of Townsend's translation, in which the author gives a broad picture of the American mathematical community involved in the process of creating a successful publication.