Barry McNamara  |  Published December 04, 2019

Finding a Wider Audience

Novel by Francisco Ángeles selected for Penguin Random House’s program.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – Monmouth College professor Francisco Ángeles has experienced a problem common to successful Latin-American authors – their books sell well in their native countries but often not in other Spanish-speaking countries.

FRANCISCO ÁNGELES: Outside of a core group of readers in a certain country, gaining a wider audi... FRANCISCO ÁNGELES: “Outside of a core group of readers in a certain country, gaining a wider audience there is a really hard thing to do.”In Ángeles’s case, his novels have done well in his native country of Peru, including his critically acclaimed fourth novel, Adiós a la revolución (Goodbye to the Revolution), which was published earlier this year.

Now readers outside Peru will have greater access to his book, thanks to the “Map of Languages 2020” program by publisher Penguin Random House. The program, which was announced earlier this month in Mexico at the world-famous Guadalajara International Book Fair, seeks to break down boundaries that exist between the literatures of the Spanish-speaking countries in the world. The project will begin with books by 12 Spanish-speaking authors, including Ángeles.

“It’s really hard to enter certain markets,” said Ángeles, who joined Monmouth’s Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures in 2017. “Outside of a core group of readers in a certain country, gaining a wider audience there is a really hard thing to do.”

Ángeles used Peru’s neighboring country of Chile as an example. He has received positive feedback on Adiós a la revolución from a Chilean film director, but noted that as someone involved in the fine arts, the director is part of that “core group” that is already being reached.

“You can reach a limited audience,” he said, “but I’m hoping that this new program will increase sales to a wider audience in countries outside Peru. Publishing houses have had to fight against this resistance for years.”

The project consists of disseminating the work of Spanish-speaking writers beyond their respective native countries, with the intention that readers can find the works and become more interested in foreign authors’ titles. The project’s long-term goal is to internationalize 60 titles within five years. The circulation for each country will have to be evaluated, but it is estimated that each nation will receive up to 1,000 copies of each featured book.

Adiós a la revolución Ángeles broke through with his first novel in 2008. His second and third novels were published in 2014 and 2016, respectively. He said his latest novel ties together several themes, including love and eroticism, politics, philosophy, the relationship between the United States and Latin America, and the relationship between men and women. Perhaps most important, though, is another concept.

“This book gets into the idea of theory vs. practice,” he said. “A lot of radical scholars and people on the far left – their lives are different from the way they write. This book is about living according to your ideas – putting into practice your ideas. Is it possible?”

Back to News & Events

Did you know?

  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College has an active Pipe & Drum Band. Each year on Scholar’s Day in April the bagpipers wake students up at 6:00 a.m. by playing in the residence halls!</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/music/pipe-band/" target="_blank">Pipe Band</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College offers unique academic minors in Global Public Health and Global Food Security for students who want to use their education to address global challenges. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/global-public-health/" target="_blank">Global Public Health</a></li><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/global-food-security/" target="_blank">Global Food Security</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> 98% of Monmouth graduates were employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation.</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/wackerle-center/career-services/" target="_blank">Career Preparation</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p><strong>Monmouth College is the birthplace of the women’s fraternity movement. Pi Beta Phi, the first such collegiate women’s organization, was founded at Monmouth in 1867. It was followed three years later by Kappa Kappa Gamma. The two pioneering organizations today boast a total of 275 active chapters nationwide.</strong></p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/student-life/sororities-fraternities/" target="_blank">Sororities & Fraternities</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College offers several international trips each year during 2-week Scots Terms in January and May. Recently students have traveled to Botswana, Greece, Scotland, Japan, and more. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_urls"><a href="https://monmouthcollege.edu/offices/global-engagement/" target="_blank">Scots Term</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> We’re no stranger to winning. Last year the Fighting Scots won Midwest Conference championships in Football, Women’s Soccer, Women’s Basketball and Men’s Track and Field. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_urls"><a href="https://monmouthscots.com/" target="_blank">Fighting Scots</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College is proudly test optional. Applicants may choose whether or to submit SAT or ACT scores for admission and scholarship consideration. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/admission/apply/test-optional/" target="_blank">Test Optional</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> We offer a certified Peace Corps Preparation program that gives Peace Corps bound graduates a leg up in the application process.</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/peace-corps-prep/" target="_blank">Peace Corps Prep</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College covers the cost for all current students to get a U.S. passport. Unlock access to over 198 different countries! We’ll even help with the paperwork :)</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/academics/study-abroad/" target="_blank">Study Abroad</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> Monmouth College has an educational garden and 6.7 acre farm. Students grow and harvest fruits and vegetables to sell at the local farmer’s market. </p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_urls"><a href="https://monmouthcollege.edu/academics/only-at-monmouth/educational-garden-farm/" target="_blank">Garden & Farm</a></li></ul></div></aside>
  • <aside class="factoid-item"><div class="factoid-item-text"><p> 99% of Monmouth students received some type of scholarship or financial assistance.</p></div><div class="factoid-item-links"><ul><li class="lw_related_page"><a href="/offices/student-financial-planning/types-of-aid/scholarships/" target="_blank">Scholarships</a></li></ul></div></aside>