Share brilliant books first published in any language other than English!

Hans Christian Andersen - Den Lille Pige med Svovlstikkerne (The little match girl)

It was originally published in Danish in 1845.

Growing up in the late 80s and early 90s I didn't have access to a lot of Western television channels and kids cartoons which were popular in other countries. I had a lot of illustrated books though, most of them from the Grimm brothers or Andersen. The little match girl was one of my favourites, but I can't really tell why. Maybe because after my father passed away I didn't have a very good childhood, and the visions the girl was seeing reminded me of the last peaceful Christmas I got to spend with my father.

There are many adaptations, probably one of my favourite is the live storytelling in the Efteling theme park in The Netherlands. The park has some modern rides as well, but the old-style fairy-tale inspired park is the part most worth seeing. The background noise at the beginning of the video is quite loud, but in return the story is clearly audible as well once they get inside.

Crime and Punishment by F. Dostoyevsky

For this bounty, I wish to highlight an absolute classic in the psychological and philosophical fiction genre. First published in 1866 in Russian, this novel delves into the complexities of human psychology, guilt, and morality. It’s a substantial work, featuring around 600 pages, and while it can be challenging to read, it’s one of those books that I believe every educated person should experience at least once. It is frequently included in college and university programs related to literature, law, and philosophy.

After briefly checking Amazon sales, I found dozens of editions translated into numerous languages, with over 15,000 positive reviews across many versions.

Every Man Dies Alone or Alone in Berlin
Original in German: Jeder stirbt für sich allein

A novel by German author Hans Fallada, published around 1947.
Based on a true story, Otto and Elise Hampel, who become part of the German Resistance but acting alone, mostly with letters.

One of the first Anti-Nazi books from a german Author after the World War 2.

I read this several times and every time i like it more and more.

One of the best books I know is "Grande Sertão: Veredas" by João Guimarães Rosa. It's a Brazilian book, published in 1956, is a masterpiece of Brazilian literature and is considered one of the most significant works in the Portuguese language.

The novel has left an indelible mark on Brazilian literature and world literature. It is studied in schools and universities across Brazil and has been translated into multiple languages, allowing it to reach a global audience. The novel has influenced countless writers and remains a cornerstone of literary discussions about the nature of storytelling, language, and the human experience.

"Grande Sertão: Veredas" is a complex and epic narrative set in the Brazilian sertão, a vast and arid backlands region. The story is narrated by Riobaldo, an old jagunço (a member of an armed group in the sertão), who recounts his life story to an unnamed listener.

It's a mandatory book!

Dom Casmurro - Machado de Assis

It's a Brazilian book that is situated in an old Brasil and is about the life of lawyer that narrate all its life since his childhood and you be able to see the young promises to merry his childhood crush to your adulthood and see the high and downs in its life and face the dilemas that the characters itself are facing. It does't let things clear and that's the fantastic of it, feel and experience the doubts and feelings the character are probably feeling.