CPM has recently completed three interesting co-edition titles for Parragon Books, the largest illustrated non-fiction publisher in the world. These were the comprehensive Classic Baking, the endlessly inventive Asparagus: The Best Recipes, and the seasonally inspired Baking with Fruit.
A co-edition is commissioned when a publishing house decides to publish the same edition of a book (or equivalent versions of an edition, for example, translated versions), simultaneously or near-simultaneously, in different countries. In the case of CPM's three books, the company was using German editions as the template, and repurposing them for the UK market.
There was no shortage of translators, copyeditors or proofreaders willing to take on these assignments – perhaps hinting at a popular between-proofs pastime! – and they did a great job in tracking down alternatives to some uniquely German ingredients. As always, fitting the (inevitably shorter) English text into the German design was a bit of a challenge, while the mind-bending task of converting all of the measurements (the English versions require imperial as well as metric) can test the patience of even to the most committed pedant!
The books will soon be in the shops, so patisserie-minded gastronauts and can look forward to trying out classics such as Apple Strudel and Chocolate Layer Torte, unusual combinations such as Mandarin and Campari Cheesecake, and modern creations such as Chilled Buttermilk and Kiwi Fruit Flan. Meanwhile, experimental vegetable-lovers should brace themselves for a hail of green and white spears in the form of everything from White Asparagus in Puff Pastry Nests to Asparagus and Honey Mousse!
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