China's Rising Readership, Emerging Authors Offer Opportunities for Western Publishers
By Wen Huang - Publishing Perpectives

The market for serious books in China now numbers between 10 to 15 million people. The country imports 10,000 titles per year for translation. And there are scores of Chinese authors unknown outside the country who are waiting to be mined for their commercial potential. Does this all add up an opportunity for Western publishers? Certainly, but there are limitations, as Wen Huang explains in the second part of his profile of Big Apple literary agency.
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Is Literature Useful as an Instrument of "Soft Power?"
By Edward Nawotka


Dr. Luc Kwanten of the Big Apple literary agency says that in recent years China has been promoting the export of its literature -- either by supporting translations or participating in book fairs -- as an exercise in soft power. The US does it too, as do other countries. But is literature really suited to exercising "soft power" or is it too unfettered and unpredictable to be of much use?

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