12 Swiss Books 2018 | NO. 7

The magazine and the idea behind it
In order to raise international awareness of Swiss literature, Pro Helvetia launched a magazine named «12 Swiss Books». It is published annually to coincide with the Frankfurt Book Fair and, with each issue, presents twelve newly published works of literature from all four linguistic regions in Switzerland. These works are especially recommended for translation by the Swiss Arts Council. Available in printed and web form, «12 Swiss Books» offers text excerpts, brief portraits of the authors and useful information on the possibilities of support for publishers, translators and agencies.

12 Swiss Books 2018 | NO. 7
This year, once again, we have invited some top British translators to assess our selection. The themes of this year’s edition are as diverse as they are intriguing, dealing with life’s big questions: identity, love, death, grief and the simple challenge of coping. In these pages you can read about the long-awaited magnum opus from one of Switzerland’s best established authors, as well as promising debuts by no less than six ‘newcomers’. We have fictional accounts of historical figures and autobiographical fictions, an anthology of literary works and an account of social division. All in all, a wide range of exceptional literature that we are recommending  for translation.

In addition, we have a further six ‘unmissable’ Swiss books to offer you, and the winners of the Swiss Literature Prizes in 2018.

Also this year, Pro Helvetia has launched a new series of Swiss-British cultural exchanges, including a focus on Swiss literature and translation in the UK. Our regular contributing editor Rosie Goldsmith introduces this new literary collaboration, entitled “Literally Swiss”, by interviewing the famous Swiss author and philosopher who lives in Britain, Alain de Botton.