INTERNATIONAL SHORT STORIES IN TRANSLATION: WHAT LIES BEYOND ENGLISH LANGUAGE WRITERS! (20) Prestwick Chase, 100 Saratoga Blvd., Saratoga Springs

Wednesdays, 9:30-11:00am, October 7, 14, 21, 28, November 4, (11), 18

The United States is far from the center of the literary universe. This anthology is reminiscent of iconic director Bong Joon Ho’s line about overcoming “the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles” to enter a new world of film—the work of thoughtful and accomplished translators opens the door wide for those curious about what lies beyond the Western canon and classroom. Writers from six continents, ranging from new voices to literary icons, each offer a window into a distinct point of view, both transcending and illuminating their place of origin. They offer not only captivating prose, but a reminder of the power of the imagination across space and time.

Text: The Penguin Book of the International Short Story (Edited by Rabih Alameddine and John Freeman), Penguin Press, 2026. Hard Cover: ISBN:9780593834138

Leader: Marino D’Orazio holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the CUNY Graduate Center and a JD degree from Brooklyn Law School.  He has been a college professor of both English and Italian and has translated fiction and nonfiction books from the Italian. His latest translations are Eggs, Earth and Space, Saepinum and Italy’s Sacred Mountains. Marino has also had a long career as an attorney, from which he now deems himself ‘semi-retired.’ It has been his pleasure to lead a number of study groups - in both Italian and English - over the years.