Direct answer: Compare a short sample passage (many booksellers show a "look inside" preview) from two or three well-reviewed translations side by side — translator reputation and publication era matter more than publisher name alone, since translation style shifts significantly across decades.
Why translation choice changes the reading experience
The same original novel can read completely differently depending on the translator's choices around tone, sentence rhythm, and how closely they hew to literal wording versus natural English phrasing. For heavily translated classics, readers often have strong, differing preferences.
How to compare translations before buying
Look up reader discussion threads (Reddit's classic-literature communities are especially active on this exact question) comparing specific translators by name, then use retailer preview samples to read the opening page of your top two candidates before deciding.
Older vs. newer translations
Older, public-domain translations are freely available (often through Project Gutenberg) but can use more archaic or formal English; newer translations, usually still under copyright, tend to read more naturally to modern readers but require purchase or a library copy.
When multiple respected translations exist
For heavily translated classics, it's common for different translations to be considered "best" for different purposes — one prized for scholarly accuracy, another for readability — so match your choice to why you're reading it, not just star ratings.
Are older translations always free?
Public-domain translations (where both the original work and the specific translation are out of copyright) are free; many respected modern translations are still under copyright and require purchase.
Does the translator's name appear on the cover?
Not always prominently, but it's listed on the copyright or title page and in the book's full catalog listing.
Is it worth reading two different translations of the same book?
Some devoted readers do exactly this for beloved classics, since the comparison itself reveals interpretive choices in the original text.