Actually, part of the reason you don't see much foreign crime
fiction is that, when it comes to crime fiction, supposedly
Americans don't like reading about other cultures, unless
it's some twee, mythical, cosy England, or it's written by an
American.
At least, that's what more than a few American and Canadian
publishers have told several Canadian crime writers I know
of. More than a few have been encouraged to drop Canadian
settings, and use American ones. Fortunately for art, if not
for commerce, some of them have resisted. Toronto is not
Newark, and Montreal is not Dallas.
It's too bad Americans seem to mostly export culture, and
rarely import it. If Americans aren't comfortable with an
Canadian setting, imagine how well they'd take Japan, or
Germany or South Africa or Denmark or some other place really
different? I mean, there are some really great, or at the
least, very very interesting, crime writers out there. Cuba's
Jose Latour (whom Anthony mentioned), is a mere drop in the
bucket. Others that immediately spring to mind include Leo
Malet, Peter Corris, Manual Montalban and Kobo Abe. And
therte's tons more I could mention if I'd already had my
coffee. Some I've read, others I'm still hoping to read some
day. Based on what I've heard about some of them, I'm looking
forward to it.
Hmmm....maybe this is a good idea for my next P.I. Poll, Best
Foreign Eyes....
Kevin Burton Smith The Thrilling Detective Web Site http://www.colba.net/~kvnsmith/thrillingdetective/
New fiction from Anthony Neil Smith and Jochem Vandersteen, a
Reader's Survey and Talkin' 'Bout Shaft. Can you dig
it?
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