France Translates English Works

An interesting article in Tuesday's International Herald Tribune began as follows:

In France, literary honors are going to foreigners

By Alan Riding

French authors can hardly be faulted for not being productive: over the past two months, they have published no fewer than 475 new novels. Yet despite all this creative energy, probably the most striking feature of this autumn's literary season is that of six coveted book prizes, four went to novels written in French by non-French authors.

The article goes on to explore why it is so few French authors are translated into English, and so many English authors are translated into French. A number of theories are advanced as to why this, one being that "the strong narrative content of much American and British fiction may well account for its popularity in France".

While "American and British novelists fare well here, the number of living French writers who have had a major international impact of late is exactly one: Michel Houellebecq, whose books include, under their English titles, "The Elementary Particles," "Platform" and "The Possibility of an Island." For Savigneau, (Editor's note: literary critic at Le Monde) there is an explanation. "It's good to have someone who tells stories," she said.

You can find the full article at http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/11/20/style/frenchlit.php