About this list

Publishers Weekly, 20 Books

This list, titled 'The 20 Best Books in Translation You've Never Read,' is curated by Chad W. Post, director of Open Letter Books and Three Percent, with input from Stephen Sparks of Green Apple Books. The list aims to spotlight outstanding translated works often overshadowed by more universally known authors. The selection criteria emphasize quality and uniqueness, avoiding the typical inclusion of well-known figures such as Garcia or Kafka. Instead, it highlights lesser-known yet critically acclaimed translations that are often overlooked in American publishing, which heavily favors English originals. The methodology involved selecting personal favorites from Post and Sparks's extensive experience with international literature, focusing on titles that expand the reader's understanding of global narratives.

This list was originally published in 2013 and was added to this site about 1 year ago.