Random House Mondadori To Publish in English

by Aída Bardales -- Críticas, 1/15/2007

Random House Mondadori is launching its English-language program with the translation of Miami Herald columnist Andrés Oppenheimer’s international best seller Cuentos chinos, roughtly translated as “cock-and-bull stories” (Sudamericana: Random House Mondadori; 2005). “[This book] has been a best seller…since we first brought it to the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada,” explains Erik Reisenberg, business development director for Random House Spanish. “We thought this timely book would be very well-received in English.”

In this latest work, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author evaluates the state of Latin America and explains which countries have the best chance of making progress in the face of new world superpowers. The English-language edition, tentatively titled Falling Off the Map: Latin America’s Loss of Relevance and What Can Be Done About It, is scheduled to release in fall 2007. “This is the first foray into English-language translations by Random House Spanish,” said Reisenberg of this debut. A second title—a coffee table book about American icon Marilyn Monroe—is also scheduled for fall release.

Random House Mondadori is a Spanish-language joint venture between Random House and Italian publisher Mondadori. The Mexican division of Random House Mondadori will handle English-language translations and editorial content, while Random House Spanish will be in charge of U.S. marketing and distribution.

Another Spanish-language best seller in English

Another Random House Mondadori title is scheduled to be published in English in the fall. Penguin will publish the English-language translation of Ignacio Ramonet’s best seller Fidel Castro. Biografía a dos voces, literally “a biography in two voices” (Debate: Random House Mondadori; 2006). Here, Ramonet—a well-known activist and editor of Le Monde Diplomatique—transcribes over 100 hours of interviews with the Cuban leader. For the first time, Castro describes his life and views on many controversial topics. The English-language Castro: My Life will be available in the UK this September.