Book Quote by Jonathan Coe
“The biggest markets for my books outside the UK are France and Italy, and those are the two countries where I also have the closest personal relationships with my translators - I don't know whether that's a coincidence, or if there's something to be learned from it.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: "Literary Markets Today", 2019
He notes his strongest foreign markets are France and Italy, possibly linked to personal translator relationships.
In simple terms: France and Italy sell his books best, maybe due to close translator ties.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate strong translator partnerships.
Themes
publishing
international markets
relationships
Mood
analytical
optimistic
Type
strategic
inspirational
When to use this quote
- book launches
- translation projects
- marketing strategies
Key Concepts
translator rapport
market success
cultural affinity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do personal relationships affect market performance?
- Can similar strategies work elsewhere?
A Different Perspective
May overemphasize personal ties over market analysis.
![“Translators who choose to work on canonized writers can usually lean on an extensive critical apparatus around either the author or the book in question, especially in the case of writers like [Honore] Balzac and [Emil] Zola.” quote by Andre Naffis-Sahely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dae/andre-naffis-sahely-20813_balzac_translators-who-choose-to-work-on-canoni_67754.jpg)
