Uncategorized | June 29, 2004

Kafka. Garcia Marquez. Borges. Dostoevsky. For the vast majority of us, we read their classic works in translation, in English, and we take it for granted that we do not need to read the originals in German or Spanish or Russian to enjoy such pleasures. But for those mono-linguists among us, our access to these authors depends upon gifted translators, multi-linguists who can bring us these voices, these visions from other parts of the globe, in our native tongue. It is in this spirit that Words Without Borders seeks to introduce international writing to the general public–through the translation, publication, and promotion of the world’s best writing. Words Without Borders provides fiction, poetry, and non-fiction (including travel and essay) in translation from every region of the globe. This month, the website features on its home page, a series of works from Britain and Ireland originally written in languages other than English. Last month’s issue featured literature from China and next month Words Without Borders will consider religion and literature. The website, under Suitcase of Books, also features brief reviews of recommend books in translation (such as The Tunnel, by Ernesto Sabato, translated from the Spanish by Columbia’s own Margaret Sayers Peden).