By Edward Nawotka

We’re big fans of Chad Post and his press Open Letter. But we’re not alone: This past weekend the New York Times profiled Open Letter, interviewed Chad, and had glowing things to say about the publisher’s mission to bring more translated literature to American readers.

Though only 3% of the books published in the US are translated, Post is sanguine about the potential to develop this as yet all-but-unrealized market:

“There’s a set of readers out there that’s very interested in translations and international literature and is not getting what it wants. So we believe our business model can work. American literature has a lot of great works. But English-speaking readers don’t have full access to voices and viewpoints from around the world, and we’re trying to rectify that.”

The article pointed out that Open Letter’s Season of Ash, by the Mexican novelist Jorge Volpi appeared on Best of 2009 lists; and Amazon.com recently awarded Open Letter a $20,000 grant to support publication of The Wall in My Head, its recently published anthology by East European put together by Words Without Borders.

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