Biblio File

Summer Reading: 2018 Literary World Cup

Not sure who to root for in the 2018 FIFA World Cup? With the United States team not part of the action, we’ve seen various suggestions about how to pick your favorite team, from skill level and likelihood of winning, to coolest jersey or catchiest nickname.

We have another idea. Let’s reprise the
Literary World Cup and celebrate literature from the competing countries as their teams play for the Cup! Group A could see a match between Naguib Mahfouz (EGY) and Leo Tolstoy (RUS), Javier Marías (ESP) might go up against José Saramago (POR) in Group B, Liane Moriarty (AUS) could take the field against Daniel Alarcón (PER) in Group C, and so forth. What literary matches would you make?

These lists are not intended to be exhaustive or definitive. We simply want to suggest some international authors and get in the World Cup spirit. We’ve tried to include authors whose work is available in English translation at the Library, which means there are more writers listed for some countries than for others. Because there are so many authors to choose from in some countries, you might not see your favorite author from England, France, or Russia, for instance. 

Recommendations for additions to the team lists are always welcome—please submit yours in the comments below! 

The NYPL Belmont Branch has started posting matches on Twitter under the hashtag #LiteraryWorldCup. Hat tip to the Los Angeles Public Library for inaugurating the tournament in 2014. 

Allez! Forza! Vamos! Los! Davai! And please share your international reading recommendations in the comments. 

Literary World Cup Group A

Flag of EgyptEgypt

 

 

Flag of RussiaRussia

 

 

Flag of Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia

 

 

Flag of UruguayUruguay

 

 


Literary World Cup Group B

Flag of IranIran

 

 

Flag of MoroccoMorocco

 

 

Flag of PortugalPortugal

 

 

 

Flag of SpainSpain

 

 


Literary World Cup Group C

Flag of australiaAustralia

 

 

flag of DenmarkDenmark

 

 

 

Flag of FranceFrance

 

 

 

Flag of PeruPeru

 

 

 

 

 


Literary World Cup Group D

Flag of ArgentinaArgentina

 

 

Flag of CroatiaCroatia

 

 

 

Flag of IcelandIceland

 

 

 

 

Flag of NigeriaNigeria

 

 


Literary World Cup Group E

Flag of BrazilBrazil

 

 

 

Flag of Costa RicaCosta Rica

 

 

 


  •  

Flag of SerbiaSerbia

 

 

 

Flag of SwitzerlandSwitzerland

 

 

 


Literary World Cup Group F

Flag of GermanyGermany

 

 

Flag of MexicoMexico

 

 

Flag of South KoreaSouth Korea

 

 

 

Flag of SwedenSweden

 

 


Literary World Cup Group G

Flag of BelgiumBelgium

 

 

 

Flag of EnglandEngland

 

 

Flag of PanamaPanama

 

 

 

Flag of TunisiaTunisia

 

 

Group H

Flag of ColombiaColombia

 

 

Flag of JapanJapan

 

 

Poland Flag of Poland

 

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Flag of SenegalSenegal