The World Bookshelf features more than 100 award-winning books supported by PEN. The site includes profiles of authors and translators, and offers readers the latest news about literary translation and exclusive blogs from veteran and up-and-coming translators from around the world. The first World Bookshelf blog on 'Bibliodiversity and the rise of translation' by translator Ros Schwartz is online now.
The website, run in partnership with English PEN's bookselling partner Foyles, is now live. English PEN members will receive a 10% discount (in addition to existing online discounts) from Foyles when buying books via the site.
English PEN's Writers in Translation Programme is supported by the Arts Council England and Bloomberg.
Jo Glanville, director of English PEN said:
'English PEN has been supporting literature in translation for almost a decade. The new site celebrates the remarkable range of writing that we've been proud to champion and is a great introduction for anyone seeking to navigate the thriving scene for international writing.'
Author Elif Shafak said:
'In a world divided by politics, religion and nationalism, there are goals that only world literature, only the ancient and universal art of storytelling, can achieve. Shortening the distance between 'Us' and 'Them', and encouraging understanding and empathy are surely among these goals. Today English PEN has launched an exemplary project to endorse, extend and celebrate fiction in translation. The World Bookshelf brings us outstanding literature from all over the world and promotes, against all odds, a free flow of ideas and stories.'