The Readers Initiative is a literary project emerging from the possibilities of collective translation. Despite an increasing emphasis on the individuality of the translator, some of the most influential translations made throughout history came from collectives. What is more, countless culturally significant works remain untranslated, inaccessible, or insufficiently engaged with beyond their original languages. The Readers Initiative was created in response to this absence.
Through practical engagement, the Initiative seeks to invite readers into a deeper process of engagement and participate in the legacy of literary transmission itself. This is not simply a project about translation, but about reading: about honouring the past, about learning from those who have been before us, and discovering worlds we thought forgotten, or never even to have existed. It is an attempt to create new encounters between readers, authors, languages, literary cultures, and perhaps most importantly, with oneself.
The initiative selects works that have been underrepresented in translation, or are not readily available in ebook format. The work is mechanically translated and presented alongside the original text for reference. The reader has both texts to compare and contrast, and, should they wish to, develop their own interpretations and ideas regarding the translation.
The reader may then submit their respective translations, be it of a word, a sentence, a paragraph, or more. Submissions are received here. All successful contributors will be accredited individually, and receive free copies of the new editions. Unsuccessful contributors will also receive free copies.