a new series featuring translated novels from Argentina to Zambia —one country for every letter of the alphabet

On October 6th, 2026, World Editions will launch the first three titles in the new Read the World A to Z series.

Read the World A to Z invites readers to travel the globe with the most influential voices from Argentina to Zambia. Published by the award-winning press World Editions, the collectible Read the World series features translated novels from A to Z—one country for every letter of the alphabet.

The first three novels in the series will take readers to Argentina, Belgium and China.

While English translations of books from France, Korea or Columbia are readily available, there’s almost no access to books from countries such as Yemen or Uruguay. Read the World A to Z is designed to change that. By publishing books from countries rarely represented in the canon of translated literature, World Editions is looking to further cultural exchange, broaden perspectives and promote diversity by increasing the visibility of non-Western voices.

All titles published as part of the series are written by contemporary, influential authors and reflect the social and cultural dimensions of their country of origin. The emphasis is on works that portray modern society, give insight into current culture and shape public discourse. The series features predominantly – but not exclusively – female voices that are both unique and typical for the country. The majority of authors have never been published in English before.

Christine Swedowsky, Publisher of World Editions says about the new series:

”Since taking on World Editions in 2023, I’ve been focused on ‘putting the World’ into World Editions. Historically Dutch, the publishing program used to feature mainly Western, especially Northern European, voices. I’ve been working on changing that by acquiring titles from Singapore (State of Emergency by Jeremy Tiang), Taiwan (To the East of the East by Ping Lu), Estonia (The Cut Line by Carolina Pihelgas), Argentina (All That Dies in April by Mariana Travacio), Chile (The Cracks We Bear by Catalina Infante Beovic), Hong Kong (Goodbye Chinatown), New Zealand (The Nikki D. Interviews by Carl Nixon), Israel (KKK by Paulina Tuchschneider), India (The Summer of Then by Rupleena Bose) and Korea (The Unsaid by Kyoungsun Lim).

The Read the World A to Z series forces me to take a very active approach to acquisitions. Rather than relying on agent submissions, I’ve been reaching out directly to authors from countries rarely represented. I am currently very much hoping to sign two female writers from Oman and Qatar, respectively, and welcome submission from Rwanda, Uganda and Vietnam.”

Argentina

All That Dies in April by Mariana Travacio
Translated by Will Morningstar and Samantha Schnee

“Hypnotic, almost ancestral voices echo through this novel like, accompanying us on a powerful journey from which none of us will emerge unscathed.” —Agustina Bazterrica, bestselling author of Tender Is the Flesh

Set in a stark landscape of cliffs and precipices high above the Argentine pampas, Mariana Travacio’s All That Dies in April follows the members of one small family as each makes a solitary journey out of their treacherous mountain home in search of a better life.

On Sale Date: 10/6/26 • Paperback: $19.99 • 978-1-64286-173-0 • 5” x 8” • 164 pages • Fiction / World Literature / Argentina • World

Belgium

The Woman Who Fed the Dogs by Kristien Hemmerechts
Translated by Paul Vincent

“With unnerving conviction, this novel inhabits the mind, heart and voice of Belgium’s ‘most hated woman,’ the ex-wife of murderer Marc Dutroux.” —Blake Morrison

Based on the real-life events of Michelle Martin, ex-wife of the notorious child abductor, murderer, and serial rapist, Marc Dutroux, this is a fictionalized account of the inner workings of Martin’s mind before, during, and after the crimes that shook a nation in the 1990s.

On Sale Date: 10/6/26 • Paperback: $19.99 • 978-1-64286-175-4 • 5” x 8” • 216 pages • Fiction / World Literature / Belgium • World

China

Cocoon by Zhang Yueran
Translated by Jeremy Tiang

“A luminous gateway into current Chinese fiction for readers seeking an entry-point.” —Boyd Tonkin, Wall Street Journal

In this literary thriller, two friends, born in the 1980s, seek to understand the experiences of their parents and grandparents during one of the most turbulent periods in Chinese history and the terrible crime that connects their families.

“Cocoon is a stupendous novel, a beautiful and formidable achievement on the grandest scale. The novel is a triumph.” —IAN McEWAN, author of the international bestseller Atonement

On Sale Date: 10/6/26 • Paperback: $19.99 • 978-1-64286-177-8 • 5” x 8” • 328 pages • Fiction / World Literature / China • World

About World Editions

World Editions is the prestigious translation publisher of award-winning and bestselling authors from around the world, including the late winner of the Alternative Nobel Prize, Maryse Condé, National Book Award Finalists Pilar Quintana and Samar Yazbek and International Booker Honoree Jaap Robben along with bestselling writers Amin Maalouf and Juli Zeh.

Discover the publishing schedule of these amazingly hard-working people in the April issue of Q Magazine: supporting our community since 2004

The Read the World A to Z series is made possible by the support of the Jan Michalski Foundation.