Every time I read DIckens he astonishes me with his sentences. I know it's just idle speculation, but that's just like day dreaming. Anyway, of current fiction writers, whom do you think will still be read in 100 years. With ambition, length and extravagance. Your advice about just reading the poetry makes sense to me, except, I can't ever figure out what the heck Wallace Stevens is talking about.
Life consists of propositions about life. . .
Older translations are sometimes stilted or period pieces. Many exceptions to this of course. Read the jacket blurbs. Check with friends. But don't put off reading a great book because you're unsure about its translation.