Translated fiction opens doors to voices, landscapes, and storytelling traditions that might otherwise remain out of reach. While the giants of publishing occasionally spotlight works in translation, it’s the small presses that consistently take risks, nurture new literary bridges, and expand what we can access in English. From the bold experiments of Deep Vellum to the elegant global catalog of Europa Editions, the mission-driven catalog of Open Letter, and the vibrant storytelling of Charco Press, these publishers are at the heart of a cultural exchange that feels both urgent and timeless. Here, we spotlight four presses and a standout title from each—books that remind us why translation matters.
1. Deep Vellum (Dallas, TX)
Founded in 2013, Deep Vellum has become the largest U.S. publisher devoted to literary translation, operating several imprints like Phoneme Media, A Strange Object, and La Reunion. Its catalog spans over 1,000 titles from more than 60 languages and 75 countries—often emphasizing social justice and cultural diversity in fiction, poetry, and narrative nonfiction. The press has won major awards such as the PEN Award for Poetry in Translation and Big Other Book Award in Fiction, and its founder was made a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by France in 2024.
Standout Title:
Solenoid by Mircea Cărtărescu (translator Sean Cotter), a mind-bending, philosophical novel set in communist Bucharest that received the €100,000 Dublin Literary Award in 2024, praised for its lyrical inventiveness and existential depth.
2. Europa Editions (New York, USA)
Established in 2005, Europa Editions rapidly gained global recognition by launching high-impact literary international titles—most famously Elena Ferrante’s The Days of Abandonment and the Neapolitan series, which became global phenomena. Their editorial ethos blends literary elegance with broader accessibility. Europa consistently brings best-selling, acclaimed authors from Europe, Latin America, and beyond to English-language readers.
Standout Title:
The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante (translator Ann Goldstein)—an emotionally seismic novel that established both Ferrante’s career and Europa’s reputation on the international stage.
3. Open Letter Books (Rochester, NY)
Since 2007, Open Letter has focused on a tightly curated annual list (around ten titles), prioritizing literary risk-takers and works of high artistic merit. In March 2025, it joined Deep Vellum officially to strengthen its distribution and reach. Open Letter is especially known for publishing prize-nominated and award-winning fiction in translation.
Standout Title:
Melvill by Rodrigo Fresán (transl. Willanderhyden), which won the 2024 Republic of Consciousness Prize, representing the press’s commitment to experimental, boundary-crossing narratives.
4. Charco Press (Edinburgh, UK)
Founded in 2016, Charco Press has quickly established itself as a vital publisher of contemporary Latin American fiction in English translation. With a sharp focus on bringing bold, socially engaged narratives to anglophone readers, Charco has introduced a range of innovative voices—from debut novelists to prizewinners—often from underrepresented countries and regions. The press has garnered multiple accolades, including International Booker Prize shortlistings and the Republic of Consciousness Prize, and was named Scotland’s Small Press of the Year in both 2021 and 2023.
Standout Title:
Of Cattle and Men by Ana Paula Maia (transl. Zoë Perry). This stark, powerful novella centers on a slaughterhouse inspector navigating cycles of violence, labor, and masculinity in rural Brazil.
5. Archipelago Books (Brooklyn, NY)
Archipelago is a nonprofit press founded in 2003, devoted to bringing both contemporary and classic world literature in translation to English‑language readers. They publish a beautifully curated list of fiction, poetry, and essays from a wide range of countries and languages—often championing pioneering or overlooked translations. Their editions are known for striking design and literary rigor, and their roster includes authors like Elias Khoury, Julio Cortázar, Mircea Cărtărescu, and Karl Ove Knausgaard.
Standout Title:
Eastbound by Maylis de Kerangal (transl. Jessica Moore). Originally published in French in 2012 and translated by Archipelago in 2023, this novel follows a young Russian conscript attempting to desert across the Trans‑Siberian railway.
6. New Vessel Press (New York, USA)
Founded in 2012, New Vessel Press focuses primarily on literary fiction and narrative nonfiction in translation. Their selections span global voices, with particular attention to writers exploring themes of memory, identity, and social justice. The press positions itself at the intersection of literary and intellectual inquiry, and its books often receive award recognition and deep critical reflection. The editorial ethos values translation as a form of creative collaboration.
Standout Title:
The Words That Remain by Stênio Gardel (transl. Bruna Dantas Lobato). This debut novel offers an intimate, socially engaged portrayal of poverty and literacy in Brazil. Its translational nuance and emotional clarity earned it the 2023 National Book Award for Translated Literature.
7. Istros Books (London, UK)
Since its founding in 2011, Istros has specialized in literature from Southeast Europe and the Balkans—regions often sidelined in anglophone publishing. They spotlight writers from countries including Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, and Montenegro, publishing fiction and nonfiction with cultural specificity and literary resonance. Istros has introduced numerous authors to English-speaking audiences, often ranking as the premier Balkan-focused press in translation.
Standout Title:
Doppelgänger by Daša Drndić (transl. Celia Hawkesworth & S.D. Curtis). A dense and haunting meditation on history, identity, and atrocity, this Croatian novel weaves documentary fragments, letters, and narrative to evoke the psychic weight of war-torn memory. It remains one of Istros’ most lauded releases.
8. Les Fugitives (London, UK)
A boutique press dedicated to francophone women writers, Les Fugitives often publishes short, genre-bending works that defy conventional categories. Essays, memoirs, and literary hybrids are brought into English with care and poetic attention. The press is known for thematic coherence, feminist insight, and thoughtful translation—often spotlighting voices from Côte d’Ivoire to France who have not been previously published in English.
Standout Title:
Suite for Barbara Loden by Nathalie Léger (transl. Natasha Lehrer & Cécile Menon). A lyrical and layered meditation on the actress-filmmaker Barbara Loden, this book interweaves film theory, biography, and personal reflection. Praised for its originality and emotional depth, it won the Scott Moncrieff Prize.
9. Two Lines Press (Oakland, CA)
Two Lines specializes in literary fiction and nonfiction in translation from Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. The press champions culturally specific voices, often tackling themes of tradition, resistance, and desire within their regional contexts. While they have a relatively small list, their editorial focus favors urgency, representation, and craftsmanship—especially from queer and women writers as part of their Calico series and beyond.
Standout Title:
Lake Like a Mirror by Ho Sok Fong (transl. Natascha Bruce). A collection of nine powerful short stories from Malaysian writer Ho Sok Fong, this volume illuminates the emotional and social lives of women grappling with tradition, identity, and intimacy.
10. Bullaun Press (Dublin, Ireland)
Founded in 2021 by Bridget Farrell, Bullaun Press is dedicated to literary translation—particularly politically engaged and formally dynamic works from francophone authors and beyond. Its name draws from Irish folklore (bullán stones with hollow reverence), signaling a small press rooted in place yet oriented outwardly toward global conversation. Despite its youth, Bullaun has already earned major recognition in the UK–Irish small-press scene.
Standout Title:
There’s a Monster Behind the Door by Gaëlle Bélem(transl. Karen Fleetwood & Laëtitia Saint‑Loubert). A debut picaresque satire set in 1980s Réunion Island, this novel blends dark humor, postcolonial critique, and familial drama. It won the 2025 Republic of Consciousness Prize.
Small presses remind us that some of the most powerful literary exchanges don’t come from the mainstream, but from dedicated publishers working on the margins with vision and heart. By championing translated fiction, these presses make room for voices that challenge assumptions, celebrate difference, and connect readers across borders. Every book on their lists carries not only the story of its author, but the cultural context and history of the place it comes from—transformed yet preserved through the art of translation.
For readers, supporting these publishers is more than adding a great book to the shelf. It’s an act of participation in a global conversation. Each purchase, each recommendation, each moment spent inside a translated novel helps sustain the ecosystem that allows new stories to reach us. Translators, editors, and small press teams work tirelessly, often with limited resources, to ensure that these books don’t just exist but thrive in a crowded publishing landscape. Their work is a reminder that literature isn’t just entertainment; it’s a bridge.
As you explore the standout titles from Deep Vellum, Europa Editions, Open Letter, and Charco Press, consider them an invitation. An invitation to step into unfamiliar worlds, to listen to voices shaped by different languages and lived experiences, and to recognize the common threads that connect us all. The more we read across borders, the more we see that literature is not bound by geography—it’s a universal language of its own.
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Article originally Published in the Fall 2025 Issue: Indie Fiction From Across the Globe