ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the success of the French translation of Lize Spit's Flemish bestseller Het smelt (2016), emphasising the role of networks in literary translation projects. By analysing the small-scale production network from which the translation emerged—from selection to translation, promotion, and early reception—the study highlights how interconnected agents and institutions contribute to a translation's outcome. Taking a descriptive, network-oriented approach and drawing on fieldwork, including interviews with key figures (author, translator, and series director), the chapter provides an in-depth view of the translation's genesis in the French-speaking publishing world. It assesses the role of mediating agents and institutions in circulating Dutch-language literature in France and identifies key factors behind the success of Het smelt 's translation. The analysis underscores the significant contribution of the Dutch Foundation for Literature and its counterpart Flanders Literature, demonstrating their pivotal role in fostering cross-cultural literary exchange and facilitating the translation's success. This case study offers insights into the broader dynamics of literary translation and the networks that shape cultural transfer.
