While announcing the 25 Best Translated Books of 2008, Three Percent editor Chad Post predicted that small presses would emerge relatively unscathed from this week’s financial meltdown.
The translation long list included literary superstars like Roberto Bolano (nominated for both 2666 and Nazi Literature in the Americas) as well as quieter releases like Victor Serge’s Unforgiving Years. The winners will be announced on February 19th at the Melville House offices.
In an interview at Jacket Copy, Post explained his faith in indie publishing:
“For 2008, the six big commercial houses and all their subsidiaries accounted for approximately 20% of the fiction and poetry published in translation. So, although the flow of other literary cultures into America is pretty small (like I mentioned about approximately 350 books a year), the smaller presses are the ones responsible for providing readers with access to international literature and viewpoints … although the publishing world seems to be falling apart (every day seems more dire than the last), I think indie presses will come out of this in pretty good shape.”
(Via Edward Champion.)