Publishing Works in Translation

Translation underpins the circulation of literature globally and offers growing opportunities for publishers. From the #namethetranslator campaign to Women in Translation month to the inauguration of a National Book Award for Translated Literature, the United States is finally catching up to the rest of the world in celebrating the joys of translated literature. This course will address both the global and domestic marketplaces for literature in translation, the practicalities of reader reports, foreign language rights, and contracting with translators, and the processes of acquiring and promoting literature from another language. Students will gain a foundation in intercultural communication and an overview of world literature while learning to assess which works will make the greatest impact in translation, from phenomena like Harry Potter to success stories like Elena Ferrante. Class content will include case studies, translator memoirs, films, sample proposal materials and contracts, and other realia.