Fitzcarraldo – inside the chicest publisher on earth
At the age of 29, Jacques Testard set up a publishing house because no one in publishing would employ him. Born in France and schooled in London, he had wanted to go into academia before a series of internships made him realise that publishing was “another way to be serious about books”. In 2014, when he struggled to find a permanent opening, he decided to launch his own house. His ambition was not just to be an editor but to find and publish “writers at the cutting edge of contemporary literature” – including, significantly, work in translation. He had 18 months until the money ran out. “I thought, ‘I’ll give this a go and see what happens, and maybe in a few years’ time someone will give me a job.’” Every publisher is a story, says Ray O’Meara, the house’s art director, and the story of Fitzcarraldo Editions is very simple. Twelve years ago, mainstream UK publishers did not believe there was a market for translated literature. It was a gap Testard was able to plug. The first book he