I have an unusual formatting situation - I have a memoir written by my Danish
Great Grandfather and I want to present the translation in the left column
and the English translation on the right. I also want to include footnotes
and insert pictures throughout that help illustrate parts of the memoir. I
essentially want each column to not do an automatic column break but continue
on the same side for subsequent pages. Then, the original text and the
English translation would appear on their own sides through subsequent pages.
I want to insert pictures in "artistic" ways on the pages and have the text
surround the picture wherever I may place it (in the middle or off-center on
the page of two columns).

I've investigated three options: columns, tables, text boxes. Columns
requires that I keep fiddling with manual pagination and putting in column
breaks - a pain in the neck. Tables work well, but I can only put the
pictures in one column or the other and I can't put them where they might
span columns. Text boxes requires that I put text boxes on multiple pages
(the text could span up to 30 pages), but then I can't use footnotes in text
boxes.

Anyone have any suggestions on how I might solve my problem and get
everything I want?

Would I be better served using Publisher (does it handle footnotes) or
another product that does everything I want?

Thanks,
--
Steve