We’ve been discovering some of the less well-known publishers around the world and finding out what makes them tick. This month’s small press is Fitzcarraldo Editions, which has recently been fortunate enough to have three titles nominated on the Booker International Longlist.

Sales and Marketing Executive Rosie Brown kindly gave us some of her time to fill us in with all things Fitzcarraldo:

Q: What is Fitzcarraldo Press’ origin story?

Founded in 2014, Fitzcarraldo Editions is an independent publisher specialising in contemporary fiction and non-fiction, with a focus on ambitious, imaginative and innovative writing, both in translation and in the English language. Fitzcarraldo Editions publishes, among other authors, 2015 and 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature laureates Svetlana Alexievich and Olga Tokarczuk, Annie Ernaux, Jon Fosse, Fernanda Melchor, Brian Dillon, Maria Stepanova, Kate Briggs, Paul B. Preciado and Daisy Hildyard.

Q: What do you want Fitzcarraldo Press to be known for?

Fitzcarraldo Editions strives to publish authors rather than books. On the translation side, the authors tend to be very established in their countries and are world-class authors. On the English language side, it’s been mostly younger or emerging writers who aren’t as well known in the English-speaking world. The commitment to those writers over time is very important.

Q: What book was your biggest success so far?

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones is our biggest success so far. We’ve also had lots of success with Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor, translated by Sophie Hughes.

Q: Looking forward to the rest of the year – what upcoming titles should we be getting excited about?

We’re very excited to be publishing Rombo, by Esther Kinsky, translated by Caroline Schmidt. Kinsky’s new novel explores the trauma caused by natural disaster, after two severe earthquakes rip through north-eastern Italy. We’re also thrilled to be publishing Getting Lost by Annie Ernaux. Getting Lost is a major book and everyone at Fitzcarraldo Editions is excited for Alison L Strayer’s excellent translation to go out into the world in September.