The International Frankfurt Book Fair which focussed on Latin America (1976), Sub-Saharan Africa (1980), India (1986), etc. has amply shown that in literature there are no "under-developed areas". However, good fiction from Africa, Asia and Latin America is not yet adequately represented on the German book market. Although quite a number of important books by authors from Africa, Asia and particularly Latin America have been translated into German, they are very often seen as something "exotic" or "foreign".
The Society for the Promotion of African, Asian and Latin American Literature was founded in Frankfurt in 1980. It is an association of professionals in the fields of publishing, journalism and literary studies and criticism. At the centre of our activities is a special
network of information for several hundred publishers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, in essence a shortlist of recommendable books (fiction and poetry) by authors from "Third World" countries; this shortlist is backed by reviews, written by competent experts. Thus we draw the attention of publishers to books which deserve a translation into German.
Since 1984 the Society is also administering a special programme of grants for translations into German of relevant books by African, Asian and Latin American authors; this programme is funded by the German Foreign Office and the Swiss cultural foundation PRO HELVETIA and allows for subsidies of about 20 translations per year.
In addition, the Society is publishing the quarterly "LiteraturNachrichten" (in German) with news, authors' portraits and analysis about literary and related events and developments with regard to the "Third World"; this quarterly, the only publication of its kind
in Germany, has developed into a useful source for editors in publishing houses and media alike.
Every two years we publish a catalogue "QUELLEN" (Sources) listing all fiction titles available on the German market which have been translated from languages of the "South".
Generally, the Society is seeking to promote a better understanding of creative writing from Africa, Asia and Latin America. We do so through a wide range of activities. Among them:
- the organisation of reading tours in Germany for these authors, in cooperation with their publishing houses and other organisations;
- special promotion campaigns for good books for younger readers;
- the organisation of exhibitions of books from Africa, Asia and Latin America in libraries, schools and other places of learning.
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