So
A translator reads a book; thinks it would work well in translation. Contacts the publisher to inquire about the rights and discovers that it has not been translated into English.
Offers to translate two sample chapters. Does so (for free). Publisher loves them; shows them to publishers in the US and the UK. Several express interest and request 3 more chapters just to be sure.
Translator translates 3 more chapters (for free) in record time. Major US/UK publisher loves them and so buys English translation rights.
But… decides it would prefer to give the contract to a US translator they’ve already worked with, and the translator who instigated the whole darn thing is now feeling uh…
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