This anthology contains writing in translation from across the world, never published before in English. Within its pages you will find the work of authors who are largely unknown among Anglophone audiences, alongside inter- nationally recognised authors and translators. There are dark tales of murder, cannibalism and dog breeding, stories of surrealistic erotica and anthropological science-fiction, and accounts of protest and resistance. Courtroom exhibits speak back, detectives piece together the final days of unhappy youths. Nuns smoke cigarettes and share obscenities in darkened rooms. Villagers go on secret nocturnal outings, jumping between the tops of mango trees.

Since its inception, The White Review has been a home for inventive and experimental writing in translation. With this anthology, we hope to pay tribute to the tireless work of translators, whose often invisible labour helps bring literature to new audiences, transporting writing across languages and borders. In a world carved up by nationalisms, in which culture is too often produced in an echo chamber, or limited by insular attitudes and risk-averse commercial strategies, connecting with the voices of those outside of our immediate contexts is particularly vital. As the writing in this anthology shows, it can also be wildly entertaining.

To make this anthology we issued a global open call. The quality of the submissions we received shows how many excellent works in translation are out there – and how much excellent writing is waiting to be translated. This collection is a drop in the ocean. We hope it encourages readers, and publishers, to dive in.

Rosanna McLaughlin, Izabella Scott & Skye Arundhati Thomas