The West Virginia University Press marks a first Saturday (July 19) in Clarksburg with the publication of its newest book, Pinnick Kinnick Hill, An American Story, in English with a facing-page translation in Spanish.

The public is invited to attend the publication kickoff from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. at the historic Waldomore behind the Clarksburg Public Library. Food, drink, music and fun will be the order of the day. The event is free.

Books published in two languages have long been available to students learning a second language and to scholars working with editions of esoteric documents. But the WVU Press has employed the format for a memoir of life in the early 20th century Spanish community at Anmoore, W.Va.. G.W. Gonzalezs original English faces a Spanish translation by WVU associate professor of foreign languages, Daniel F. Ferreras.

We think this is the enlightened way to publish a book of this kind,said WVU Press Director Patrick Conner.The book is the wonderfully detailed story of the immigrant experience in West Virginia during the last century and will interest Hispanic Americans throughout this country. Some of them will be able to read it only in Spanish.

West Virginias Spanish community derived mostly from the Asturian area of Spain, and interest in Pinnick Kinnick Hill has already been kindled in Asturias. Because the book contains both the original English and the Spanish translation, it can easily be marketed in Spain, too.

It often happens, Conner explained, that publishers do not provide translations until they see whether the book sells well, but then interest in the subject may have waned by the time the translation is ready.

There is also another reason WVU Press has put Ferrerass translation next to Gonzalezs English text, edited by Mark Brazaitis. Associating the two languages in one book is a constant reminder of the juxtaposition of the two cultures in central West Virginia in the early 20th century, Connor noted.

Several of our books, such as John Cuthberts Early Art and Artists in West Virginia and Tim Sweets edition of Philip Pendleton Kennedys The Blackwater Chronicle have been noteworthy for their design,said Conner,and we think that the way we designed Pinnick Kinnick Hill to bring together culture, language and history for the general reader is not only noteworthy, but it will challenge other publishers to consider similar formats when the material warrants it.