Amazon to translate foreign-language books into English and publish through its own imprint

Amazon publishes translated foreign-language books

SEATTLE — Online retailer Amazon.com Inc. said Tuesday it is launching a book imprint to publish foreign-language literature translated into English.

The first book from the new AmazonCrossing imprint will be “The King of Kahel,” 2008 winner of the prix Renaudot French literary prize. Its author, Tierno Monenembo, was born in Guinea and now lives in France. The book is due out in paperback and in an electronic Kindle version on Nov. 2.

Amazon said it will use customer reviews and other data from its websites around the world to choose AmazonCrossing titles.

Amazon announced its first publishing brand, AmazonEncore, a year ago. AmazonEncore reissues books it deems exceptional but overlooked.

Online:

www.amazon.com/amazoncrossing