Words Without Borders was founded by Alane Salierno Mason, translator of
Elio Vittorini, in 1999 and began publication in 2003. It promotes cultural understanding through the translation, publication, and promotion of the finest contemporary international literature. It publishes a monthly magazine of literature in translation and organizes special events that connect foreign writers to the public; it also develops materials for high school and college teachers and provides an online resource center for contemporary global writing. Words Without Borders is supported by the
National Endowment for the Arts, the
New York State Council on the Arts and the Lannan Foundation, among many others. David Orr, in
The New York Times, compliments the "intelligence and idealism" of
WWB. == Prominent authors ==