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First 100

First 100

$500.00

by Open Letter

"I recommend an outfit called Open Letter Books. They are an institute recently founded at the University of Rochester for the study and advocacy of international translation."
—David Kipen, former Director of Literature and National Reading Initiatives, National Endowment for the Arts

Open Letter Books at the University of Rochester is working directly with libraries and individuals to bring great works of international literature to the hands of as many readers as possible.

With direct support from the University of Rochester, Open Letter is now able to provide the complete catalog of our first 100 titles at a deep discount of about 75% off. That’s Open Letter’s first 100 books for only $500, including free shipping within the United States.

Fewer than 3% of books published in the U.S. are translated from another language. Open Letter—one of the only U.S. organizations with a commitment to cultivating an appreciation for international literature—is a nonprofit publisher dedicated to addressing this problem by connecting readers to great international books. The collection features:

  • 100 books with content from over 40 countries;
  • Classic, internationally renowned authors such as Marguerite Duras, Mercè Rodoreda, and Ilf & Petrov;
  • Epic, award-winning works from contemporary authors such as Mikhail Shishkin, Can Xue, Arnon Grunberg, and Mathias Énard;
  • Along with novels, the collection also includes several collections of short fiction, essays, poetry, and three anthologies;
  • Some hardbound editions;
  • Free shipping on all U.S. domestic orders, and discounted shipping for international orders;
  • Are you a library or other institution and don't want to order by credit card? Click here to see alternate ways to order, or simply email anthony.blake@rochester.edu.

Here's a list of all the books included, with links to learn more about each one:

"A role of academic libraries is to provide ready access to international literature to foster broader cultural awareness, appreciation, and understanding. The publications of Open Letter remove the barrier of language that too often impedes multicultural understanding."
—Susan Gibbons, University Librarian at Yale University