Already actively involved in translating French texts, in around 1950 Strachan decided to teach himself Italian using a Linguaphone course. He immersed himself in the work of modern Italian writers, and soon began translating both short stories and novels by writers like Cesare Pavese and Vera Cacciatore. These are all included here, along with some of the original Italian texts from which he worked.
- /1 Cesare Pavese, La bella estate (Einaudi, 1953). Italian edition. Hardback.
- /2 Cesare Pavese, The political prisoner, translated by W.J. Strachan (London: Peter Owen, 1955). Also includes the short novel, The wonderful summer, a translation of La bella estate. Hardback. Signed by Strachan.
- /3 Modern Italian stories, selected and edited by W.J. Strachan (London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1955). Hardback. With a number of cuttings of reviews pasted inside front cover and on preliminary pages.
- /4 Cesare Pavese, The house on the hill, translated by W.J. Strachan (London: Peter Owen, 1977 reprint; originally published in 1956). Hardback.
- /5 Cesare Pavese, Il compagno (Einaudi, 1950). Italian edition. Hardback. Annotated throughout and with numerous loose pages.
- /6 Cesare Pavese, The comrade, translated by W.J. Strachan (London: Peter Owen, 1959). Hardback. With manuscript inscription from Walter to Irene.
- /7 Cesare Pavese, The comrade, translated by W.J. Strachan (London: Brown, Watson Ltd, 1959). Paperback.
- /8 Vera Cacciatore La palestra (Padua: Rebellato Editore, 1961). Paperback. Italian edition.
- /9 Vera Cacciatore, The swing and two other stories, translated by W.J. Strachan (London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1959). Hardback.
- /10 Enrico Emanuelli, Uno di New York (Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, 1959). Italian edition. Hardback.
- /11 Enrico Emanuelli, The man from New York, translated by W.J. Strachan (London: Macdonald, 1962). Hardback. Signed by Strachan.
- /12 Antonio Fogazzaro, Piccolo mondo antico (Edizioni Scolastiche Mondadori, 1959). Italian edition. Paperback.
- /13 Antonio Fogazzaro, The little world of the past, translated by W.J. Strachan (London: Oxford University Press, 1962). Proof copy, with manuscript corrections throughout. Includes one loose insert: a copy letter from Strachan to John Bell of Oxford University Press relating to the proofs (dated 7 April 1962).
- /14 Antonio Fogazzaro, The little world of the past, translated by W.J. Strachan (London: Oxford University Press, 1962). Hardback. Signed by Strachan.
- /15 Cesare Pavese, The beach and A great fire, translated from the Italian La spiaggia and Fuoco grande by W.J. Strachan (London: Peter Owen, 1963). Hardback.