Translated fiction is a window into how other cultures view the world. For norman mailer, it should seize the temper of the time and turn it. For lionel shriver, rather more cynically, it must “capture the nation’s zeitgeist.
With so many languages telling so many stories, the only question is where to. Browse penguin's range of classic books and discover penguin classics, clothbound classics, and modern classics collections, featuring timeless classic literature from beloved authors. So we asked our readers to tell us about their favourite classic books.
These are the best classics in translation, to get you started. First published in 1986, italian journalist and writer italo calvino explains why we continue to read and love classic novels. If a classic book is news that stays news, then a classic in translation brings us news from elsewhere.