Laurent Tranier has just published in the Roman latino collection, the book “Towards the kingdom of the Sciris”, by the Peruvian author César Vallejo, which he himself translated.
The Villefranchois Laurent Tranier is the Christophe Colomb or the Amerigo Vespucci (according to the theories of the first explorer) of Latin America… literary. Passionate about this continent, he spent six months in Quito, Ecuador, when he was young, which definitively anchored his interest in this culture. “It was an experience that marked me”, confides the forty-something. He returned several times to Latin America, which also completed his practice of the Hispanic language. At the time of founding a company, and although he considers that the editorial offer is “saturated”, Laurent Tranier launches all the same in the creation of his own publishing house, fifteen years ago. And it is quite naturally that he decides to give it two orientations. Two branches, one focused on regional culture and the other in the direction of Latin America. Because he realized that “the booksellers present few works on South America”.
Translator
Thus, on the one hand, “Lands of excellence” gives pride of place to the terroir (foie gras, milk, pork, Aubrac breed, veal from Aveyron and Ségala), to local personalities (such as Louis Oustry and Henri Carcenac) , to places (such as Cajarc) or even to children’s literature (example with “Trois cocottes funny”, produced by two Villefranchoises). And in a completely different genre, “Any Latitude” develops the Latin theme through four collections: Country, Spirit, Regard and Roman. It is in this last category that Laurent Tranier has just published “Towards the Kingdom of the Sciris”, by César Vallejo. This book plunges us into the heart of the Inca Empire, between war and peace, in a universe that is both cultural and religious but also political. A historical novel, unpublished in French, by “the greatest Latin American poet of the twentieth century”, as the Spanish politician and writer Jorge Semprun defined it. But, as with previous works, Laurent Tranier does not only edit, he is also a translator. Not only Spanish but, for this work, Peruvian Spanish. “There were many Peruvian terms but also Valléjiens as well as a lot of Quechua vocabulary”, underlines the latter. So needless to say that it is necessary to perfectly master this language as well as the thought of the author to translate without betraying. “My job is an editor, translation is a pleasant extension. It is an investigative job that requires getting as close as possible to the spirit of the author”. Delicate mission concerning César Vallejo, avant-garde poet who lived many years in France and who is moreover buried in the Montparnasse cemetery. “A pilgrimage always takes place to his grave in Paris on April 15, just as we also celebrate the anniversary of his birth on March 14,” says Laurent Tranier. It should be remembered that there are very strong links between France and South America. And particularly with Aveyron! The founding of Pigüé, this Argentinian city, at the end of the 19th century by Aveyron settlers is the perfect illustration of this. “The ambition of the publishing house Any latitude is to be a broker between two worlds which are appreciated when they have the opportunity to know each other. Lots of things are happening between Latin America and France then we try to contribute to this understanding and this understanding because the French particularly appreciate this culture “, indicates Laurent Tranier. “Towards the kingdom of the Sciris” has been very well received by the readers and Laurent Tranier has a lot of hope in another book to be released on May 20, “Terrible voyage”, by Roberto Arlt, contemporary of Vallejo, one of the two great Argentinian writers with Borges, which he also translated.
“Deploy the canopy”
After having done “my duty towards my hometown” (Laurent Tranier was first deputy mayor of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Serge Roques), he now devotes himself completely to his publishing house for which he henceforth intends to “deploy the canopy”. He receives about ten manuscripts per month but does not depart from the editorial line he has set for himself. “A house of’independent publishing requires capital because we manufacture and sell afterwards. My role is to coordinate the work of graphic designers, printers, distributors, distributors, logisticians without forgetting marketing and relations with booksellers. In the near future, Laurent Tranier plans to hire a collaborator but also to offer his books in digital format. “We are going forward !”.
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