BookBlast® champions world literature that travels
BookBlast® is a human-curated, independent-spirited, non-profit literary media hub and Community Interest Company (CIC) dedicated to championing international literature in translation and celebrating cross-cultural exchange. Combining industry expertise with a love of exceptional writing, we connect readers worldwide through informed reviews, distinctive interviews and curated events that highlight the enduring power of great books and ideas.
Founded in 1997 (No. 03314906) by Georgia de Chamberet — editor, translator, cultural journalist and former book publisher — alongside a circle of associates, BookBlast® CIC has evolved over nearly three decades to address the shifting dynamics of the global publishing landscape. We believe that reading international literature is a gateway to discovering world cultures in a fun, immersive way. It’s not about duty or academic study; it’s about the pure pleasure of reading a great story that expands your horizons.
Experience the World, Inside Out
Translated literature offers a rare kind of intimacy. How often do you step inside someone else’s mind, walk in their shoes, experience life through their eyes? It’s a powerful, profound way to discover an alternative culture to your own, and a refreshing antidote to 
fake news and algorithmic feeds.
Reading a book from another language is an act of taste and curiosity, not a virtuous or academic obligation. Forget the idea that translated literature is worthy or elitist (even if school made it feel like homework!). Great stories from around the world are visceral and provocative. Getting lost in translation is reading for pleasure in its most exciting form.
The Original BookBlast® Ethics & Values
SInce BookBlast® is a Community Interest Company (CIC), we exist primarily to benefit the community rather than to maximise shareholder profits. Being a social enterprise rather than a registered charity means that any income is reinvested directly into our mission: championing international voices, promoting literacy, celebrating cross-cultural exchange, nurturing the arts and ensuring the platform’s longevity.
Unlike commercial high-velocity sales programmes, we do not engage in hardselling or aggressive marketing tactics. As publishing professionals, our focus is on curation and cultural impact. We value quality and authentic engagement over volume and profit margins.
We appreciate your voluntary donations via PayPal to help sustain our work as an independent CIC. We believe that championing the arts should be an invitation, not a high-pressure demand. We are dedicated to maintaining a transparent, ethical space for readers and writers alike. Our goal is to cultivate a sustainable literary ecosystem where creativity thrives organically.
Notice: BookBlast® CIC is not affiliated with any commercial US-based school fundraising programmes.
BookBlast® Diary
We ‘join up the dots’ as we bring together a worldwide community of discerning readers, writers and cultural tastemakers, bridging the gap between the heart of the publishing industry and the wider world.
Testimonials
Maggie Gee, novelist & Professor of Creative Writing at Bath Spa University — “A true lover of writing and writers”
Christopher MacLehose, Open Borders Press — “Brilliant work. And what work. Excellent and eloquent. Huge salutes”
Starhaven Press — “Enterprising. Dedicated. Tireless”
Who We Are
Contributors to the BookBlast® Diary include: Georgia de Chamberet, Nick Caistor, Clem Clement, Ekaterina Drozdovica, Sharif Gemie, Rachel Goldblatt, Andrew McDougall, Victor Meadowcroft, Zoe Milton, Lucy Popescu, Leila Sackur, C. J. Schüler.
BookBlast® Podcast
Shop Our Review Picks 
Our curated collection of international reads are on sale from the BookBlast® bookshop at bookshop.org. Every purchase supports independent bookshops and our work via affiliate commissions.
The BookBlast® Translation Book Club
Our Services
Our book translation services, notably relating to French literature, allow publishers and authors to tap into new markets across the English-speaking world, expanding their sales potential and reaching new audiences.
Contemporary Classics
Reflecting its foundational roots as a literary agency, BookBlast® CIC represents the Estates of authors Professor Elton Mayo, Gael Elton Mayo and Lesley Blanch (the latter in association with Peters, Fraser and Dunlop).
While their ground-breaking writings challenged accepted thinking in their own lifetimes, today their work embodies the global vision and internationalism that form the core DNA of the original BookBlast®. Under the BookBlast® ePublishing imprint, we reissue out-of-print books by these authors that are not available through traditional publishers as exclusive eBooks, supported by digital rights management.
BookBlast® at The Bodleian, Oxford
BookBlast® at The Bodleian, OxfordBookBlast® was one of the first UK-based writers’ agencies to adopt online technology. The first company site at bookblast.com went live in 2000. It was selected by the curators of Bodleian Electronic Archives & Manuscripts, Bodleian Libraries, Oxford, in March 2015, as being of lasting research value & worthy of permanent preservation in the Web Archive of the Bodleian Libraries. BookBlast® is a registered trademark.
Special Thanks to Team BookBlast®!
Special thanks and appreciation to all of our friends and supporters. Especially Ben Fiagbe for his fintech expertise and support as BookBlast® has evolved over the years; Alan Williams for his legal counsel; Stefano Arata at Fitzdares for the BookBlast® logo; Ian Hughes at Mousemat Design Ltd for his epublishing digital know-how; to all our friends in the book trade, our writers, translators and readers.
The copyright to all the content of this site is held by the individual authors and creators. All rights reserved. Enquiries: please use the contact form