Alba stands as a widely recognized publisher in translation work, a status evident from the outcomes of a recent survey. The study is conducted by the Babelio network, a community of readers and book lovers who share their impressions and reviews within a vibrant social platform.
The survey centered on translated literature and, last May, drew more than five hundred participants who typically read more than three books each month. The demographic showed a strong female presence, with the majority above 25 years of age. Readers favored genres such as detective fiction, general fiction, and fantasy.
Alba, with a long tradition of careful printing and a special emphasis on classical texts, has recently reissued Tolstoy’s War and Peace, presented with a fresh translation by Joaquín Fernández-Valdés. Looking ahead to November, a new edition of Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time is planned, starting with the first volume containing the first two volumes, translated anew by María Teresa Gallego Urrutia and Amaya García Gallego.
15 most valuable
Following Alba, the survey lists fourteen other publishers recognized for their translation work: Alianza, Impedimenta, Penguin Random House, Planeta, Alma, Anagrama, Puck for children, Nocturna, Cliff, Cátedra, Alfaguara, Hidra, Nórdica, and Libros del Asteroid.
The Babelio survey also reveals additional insights. A striking 87% of readers report that translations constitute more than half of what they read. When tracing the origins of translated works into Spanish, readers in Europe note the United Kingdom, followed by France, Germany, Italy, and Russia as notable sources. Beyond Europe, the United States leads with 47% of translated literature, followed by Japan at 39% and China at 12%.
exploring other cultures
The survey asked participants what draws them most to literature from other countries and languages. Across responses, the principal motivation cited was the opportunity to explore other cultures.
In terms of how readers acquire translated books, booksellers were the top channel at 50%, followed by online platforms such as major retailers at 38%, and libraries at 27%.
The genres most commonly read in translation among respondents include fantasy literature at 48%, general fiction at 43%, noir at 42%, and classical literature at 38%. Other popular categories mentioned were romance, science fiction, and comics.
french classics
The survey also asked which French authors inspired readers to explore these genres. Victor Hugo led the list with 21%, followed by Alexandre Dumas and Gustave Flauvet, each at 10%. Contemporary Pierre Lemaitre also appeared with a similar share, while Balzac, Saint-Exupéry, and the noir author Fred Vargas rounded out the notable names.
Almost half of the respondents prefer reading translated works in their original language, and a substantial majority, 71%, consider the quality of translations in their evaluation. Overall, eight in ten readers believe that Spanish publishers generally do a good job translating.
Babelio is a social network dedicated to books and readers. It enables users to create and organize an online library, discover works, and share literary impressions with fellow members.