Page 7 - F-166 - A Brief History of the Big Book - Una breve historia del Libro Grande - L'histoire du Gros Livre en bref

and is read by millions of people in approximately 170
countries around the world. Approximately 35 million

copies of the fi rst four editions of the Big Book (in En-
glish) have been distributed. It sells about one million
copies per year, worldwide.

The roots of the Spanish Big Book

It is not known exactly who produced the very fi rst

Spanish translation of Alcoholics Anonymous or when it
was translated. One historical narrative passed down to
us claims that the earliest translation of the Big Book was

accomplished by the wife of a Spanish-speaking mem-
ber, Ricardo P. in 1946, and was done in an effort to
reach his fellow Mexicans. The manuscript was alleged-

ly given to Bill W. by Ricardo. Found tucked away in
the G.S.O. archives, a copy of a handwritten note from
Bill W. to Ricardo, dated July 1946, reads, “In testimo-

ny and deep gratitude for his arduous labors of trans-
lation—that our Spanish - speaking brothers through-
out the world may be led out of darkness into light.”

Another early translation is attributed to Frank M.
of the Hispano Group New York (of Puerto Rican or-

5