Stéphane Hessel is France’s 93-year old publishing phenomenon with his 14-page political essay, Indignez vous! released in October 2010
Arabic and Hebrew: The Politics of Literary Translation
This article is part of a series on publishing in the Middle East which is sponsored by the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. By Olivia Snaije Anyone involved in the art of translation knows the delicate balancing act it entails: remaining faithful to the original text but allowing the work to stand on its own in its new incarnation. It also …
Does Translation Have the Power to Change the World?
By Edward Nawotka Israel and the Arab World . . . never the twain shall meet? Perhaps. But if anything has the power to change people’s minds, books do. Israel and the Arab World…never the twain shall meet? Perhaps, but — as discussed in today’s lead story — literary translation between the two cultures will surely help each side understand …
Following Recent Events, Will You Explore the Mid-East and North Africa for Opportunities in 2011?
The landscape for publishers to explore the Middle East and North Africa for opportunities has never been better. By Edward Nawotka Earlier this month on Publishing Perspectives Egyptian e-book publisher Ramy Habeeb argued that Western publishers had a responsibility to bring “pluralism” to the Middle East publishing community, something they can do by participating in the rebirth of the free and open …
Berlin’s International Literary Fest Provides a Showcase for World Lit, Politics of Publishing
• All eyes may be turned to Frankfurt, but Germany’s capital Berlin just wrapped up its own popular literary festival with 279 authors from 63 countries appeared at 232 events. • At the Festival author Alberto Manguel called American publishing “one of the worst and most dangerous things that has happened to the works of art and literature.” By Amanda …
Is Literature Useful as an Instrument of “Soft Power?”
By Edward Nawotka In today’s lead story about the Chinese book market, Dr. Luc Kwanten of the Big Apple literary agency says that in recent years China has been promoting the export of its literature — either by supporting translations or participating in book fairs — as an exercise in “soft power.” “Soft power” is itself something of an amorphous …
Hugo Chávez’s Color Coded “Revolutionary Reading Plan”
By Emily Williams No friend to publishing (see our earlier coverage here) Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez has nevertheless started to implement his four-part color coded “Revolutionary Reading Plan.” Announced in May, the goal of the project as stated by the Venezuelan government, is “the democratization of books and reading, with a new conception of reading as a collective act under …