At Words Without Borders, B.J. Epstein expounds upon the culture of crime novels, its covert international influence and the diversity of fear.
She also continues the necessary conversation of why Anglophones are relentlessly intimidated by translated literature.
Why are English-language readers so interested in crime but less likely to want to read other texts? Is it because we’re still scared and overwhelmed by translations, so a fast-paced read won’t remind us that we’re reading one? A librarian recently told me that 99% of the people who check out translated thrillers aren’t actually aware that they are reading translations, which perhaps suggests that readers are just looking for good, exciting reads.
