Foreign Literature Essay

Last night I was at the presentation of the Independent conflicting Fiction Prize, at the National personation Gallery, where a young Angolan writer, Jos Eduardo Agualusa, was inform the 2007 winner for his novel The Book of Chameleons, realised from the Portuguese by Daniel Hahn. Set in coetaneous Angola, the book is particularly notable for be narrated by a lizard. The judges this class were the poet David Constantine, writer and editor Jennie Erdal, Arts Council literary works officer Kate Griffin, novelist Ali Smith and the literary editor of the Independent, Boyd Tonkin.Admirably the prize is shargond in the midst of the translator and author, thus honouring an art that often goes unsung. The book was evidently a touristed choice and Agualusa received his award in person, accompanied by whoops and cheers. Tonkin extols the prize as a unique bridge betwixt writers abroad and readers at home. As thrilled as I was that this clever newcomer beat such literary heavyweig hts as Ismail Kadare and Javier Maras, however, I was nevertheless more delighted that the award recognise a small literary publisher, Arcadia, who recently celebrated their 10th anniversary.The use squad at Arcadia are worthy recipients of this prestigious award, not just for bringing this inventive young writer to an English readership, only when overall for their championing of cultural diversity and for widening our literary choice 50% of their 2007 lists are books in description. Given the effects of globalisation elsewhere, it seems astonishing that we dont translate more foreign literature in this country. Apparently, translated assembly accounts for only 3% of lying sales in the UK, compared with 30-40% in France or Spain. The British are voracious readers, so why are we so insular?Dont we welcome droll voices and different perspectives? How can we exert squash on publishers to produce more translated fiction? For those interested in foreign literature, an s harp resource is Words Without Borders, an online magazine dedicated to promoting international exchange through translation and publishing works/extracts on the web. And if youd like to see Jos Eduardo Agualusa and Daniel Hahn, theyll be discipline from The Book of Chameleons this evening at Foyles bookshop, London, 6.30pm 8.30pm.