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Retailers are failing to support literature in translation, according to independent publisher Aurora Metro Press, which has three of the six shortlisted titles on this year's Marsh Award for Literature in Translation Award.
Cheryl Robson, publisher and founder at Aurora Metro, said: "Schools and individuals are ordering our books yet we get little support from library suppliers or high street retailers."
While the publisher's books have won a number of awards, it is hard to get people on shop floors interested, she added.
Aurora Metro started to publish literature in translation for teenagers three years ago. The company actively seeks manuscripts at international book fairs and acquires world English-speaking rights to its translated titles.
"We have been looking for books that are modern classics and it is good to see that other people feel we have achieved this," said Robson.
Borders is the only chain to give its full backing to the Marsh shortlist, promoting it in all stores. Senior children's buyer John Packard said: "We will be supporting these titles both instore and online." He added: "This support both underlines our continued commitment as a range bookseller, and also our passion for highlighting books that are a bit different."
The full shortlist for the Marsh Award is: My Brother Johnny by Francesco D'Adamo, translated from Italian by Sian Williams (Aurora Metro); When the Snow Fell by Henning Mankell, translated from Swedish by Laurie Thompson (Andersen); Letters from Alain by Enrique Perez Diaz, translated from Spanish by Simon Breden (Aurora Metro); Tina's Web by Alki Zei, translated from Greek by John Thornley (Aurora Metro); Toby Alone by Timothée de Fombelle, translated from French by Sarah Ardizzone (Walker); and Message in a Bottle by Valérie Zenatti, translated from French by Adriana Hunter (Bloomsbury).