Taking Books to the World: American Publishers and the Cultural Cold War (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781625343093)

Franklin Publications, or Franklin Book Programs, was started in 1952 as a form of cultural diplomacy. Until it folded in the 1970s, Franklin translated, printed, and distributed American books around the world, with offices in Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Nigeria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Although it was a private firm, Franklin received funding from the United States Information Agency. This was an ambitious and idealistic postwar effort that ultimately became the victim of shifting politics.

In Taking Books to the World, Amanda Laugesen tells the story of this purposeful enterprise, demonstrating the mix of goodwill and political drive behind its efforts to create modern book industries in developing countries. Examining the project through a clarifying lens, she reveals the ways Franklin's work aligned with cultural currents, exposing the imperial beliefs, charitable hopes, and intellectual reasoning behind this global experiment.

Author: Amanda Laugesen
ISBN-10: 1625343094
ISBN-13: 9781625343093
Publisher: University of Massachusetts Press
Language: English
Published: 09/28/2017
Pages: 208
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.72lbs
Size: 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.48d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 12/01/2018