Dall'Italiano al Mondo in New York

Until just a few years ago, only 3% of the published books were in translation. French, Spanish and German books make up 45% of the translated books on the American market. Italian occupies the 4th position and is worth about a third of the French imported books.

As far as the exchange is concerned, the 2024 data from AIE, the Italian Publishers Association, reveals a striking contrast: “North America, the largest market in the West, accounts for only 3% of our total export, yet represents a significant 38% of the acquired rights by Italian publishers. Italy sold just over 200 titles and acquired nearly 3600. In the United Kingdom, we’ve sold 142 Italian titles and have bought 16 times more.

As far as the exchange is concerned, the 2024 data from AIE, the Italian Publishers Association, reveals a striking contrast: “North America, the largest market in the West, accounts for only 3% of our total export, yet represents a significant 38% of the acquired rights by Italian publishers. Italy sold just over 200 titles and acquired nearly 3600. In the United Kingdom, we’ve sold 142 Italian titles and have bought 16 times more.

What role does Italy play in the minds of US readers, and what do they anticipate from Italian writers? Which Italian books are chosen for translation and which ones are left out, and what are the underlying reasons?

What are the obstacles to a more extensive circulation of Italian books in the Anglo-Saxon world? Despite these challenges, there is significant potential for growth. What could be done to broaden the offer and tap into this potential?

How can we best support the translators, who serve as the vital link for Italian literary production, in their work?

These are just a few of the questions brought up at the New York Multipli Forti festival by Dall’Italiano al Mondo, the Salone del Libro symposium on translated designed and curated by Ilide Carmignani. Three days of celebration of the Italian culture, Literature, authors, translators and readers.